# Quotes about consumerism - Quotes: 98 - Authors: 65 - Broader topic: [Quotes about society](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/society.md) - Topic page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism - JSON version (same data): https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.json ## Quotes > Six billion of you wake up every morning and start devouring the world. [Daniel Quinn](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-quinn.md) · [My Ishmael](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-quinn/my-ishmael.md) · p. 185 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-quinn/my-ishmael/six-billion-of-you.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > It is a terrible punishment to be banished from the web of reciprocity, with no one to share with you and no one for you to care for. I remember walking a street in Manhattan, where the warm light of a lavish home spilled out over the sidewalk on a man picking through the garbage for his dinner. Maybe we've all been banished to lonely corners by our obsession with private property. We've accepted banishment even from ourselves when we spend our beautiful, utterly singular lives on making more money, to buy more things that feed but never satisfy. [Robin Wall Kimmerer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer.md) · [Braiding Sweetgrass](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass.md) · p. 307 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass/it-is-a-terrible.md) Topics: [loneliness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/loneliness.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > We are all complicit. We've allowed the "market" to define what we value so that the redefined common good seems to depend on profligate lifestyles that enrich the sellers while impoverishing the soul and the earth. [Robin Wall Kimmerer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer.md) · [Braiding Sweetgrass](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass.md) · p. 307 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass/we-are-all-complicit.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > The fear for me is that the world has been turned inside out, the dark side made to seem light. Indulgent self-interest that our people once held to be monstrous is now celebrated as success. We are asked to admire what our people viewed as unforgivable. The consumption-driven mind-set masquerades as "quality of life" but eats us from within. It is as if we've been invited to a feast, but the table is laid with food that nourishes only emptiness, the black hole of the stomach that never fills. We have unleashed a monster. [Robin Wall Kimmerer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer.md) · [Braiding Sweetgrass](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass.md) · p. 308 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass/the-fear-for.md) Topics: [selfishness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/selfishness.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > We have constructed an artifice, a Potemkin village of an ecosystem where we perpetrate the illusion that the things we consume have just fallen off the back of Santa's sleigh, not been ripped from the earth. The illusion enables us to imagine that the only choices we have are between brands. [Robin Wall Kimmerer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer.md) · [Braiding Sweetgrass](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass.md) · p. 199 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass/we-have-constructed.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md), [illusions](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/illusions.md) > The exchange relationships we choose determine whether we share them as a common gift or sell them as a private commodity. A great deal rests on that choice. For the greater part of human history, and in places in the world today, common resources were the rule. But some invented a different story, a social construct in which everything is a commodity to be bought and sold. The market economy story has spread like wildfire, with uneven results for human well-being and devastation for the natural world. But it is just a story we have told ourselves and we are free to tell another, to reclaim the old one. One of these stories sustains the living systems on which we depend. One of these stories opens the way to living in gratitude and amazement at the richness and generosity of the world. One of these stories asks us to bestow our own gifts in kind, to celebrate our kinship with the world. We can choose. If all the world is a commodity, how poor we grow. When all the world is a gift in motion, how wealthy we become. [Robin Wall Kimmerer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer.md) · [Braiding Sweetgrass](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass.md) · p. 31 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass/the-exchange-relationships.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md), [stories](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stories.md), [gifts](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/gifts.md) > Gratitude doesn’t send you out shopping to find satisfaction; it comes as a gift rather than a commodity, subverting the foundation of the whole economy. That's good medicine for land and people alike. [Robin Wall Kimmerer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer.md) · [Braiding Sweetgrass](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass.md) · p. 111 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass/gratitude-doesnt-send.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md), [gratitude](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/gratitude.md) > While expressing gratitude seems innocent enough, it is a revolutionary idea. In a consumer society, contentment is a radical proposition. Recognizing abundance rather than scarcity undermines an economy that thrives by creating unmet desires. Gratitude cultivates an ethic of fullness, but the economy needs emptiness. [Robin Wall Kimmerer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer.md) · [Braiding Sweetgrass](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass.md) · p. 111 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass/while-expressing-gratitude.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md), [gratitude](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/gratitude.md) > For some reason, we see long-term travel to faraway lands as a recurring dream or an exotic tempation, but not something that applies to the here and now. Instead --- out of our insane duty to fear, fashion, and monthly payments on things we don't really need -- we quarantine our travels to short, frenzied bursts. In this way, as we throw our wealth at an abstract notion called "lifestyle," travel becomes just another accessory --- a smooth-edged, encapsulated experience that we purchase the same way we buy clothing and furniture. [Rolf Potts](https://www.leafyquotes.com/rolf-potts.md) · [Vagabonding](https://www.leafyquotes.com/rolf-potts/vagabonding.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/rolf-potts/vagabonding/for-some-reason.md) Topics: [travel](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/travel.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > Under the Enrichment Laws, consumers have to spend a fixed quota of dollars each month, depending on their strata. Hoarding is an anti-corpocratic crime. [David Mitchell](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-mitchell.md) · [Cloud Atlas](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-mitchell/cloud-atlas.md) · p. 227 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-mitchell/cloud-atlas/under-the-enrichment.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > The Walmart was like a starship that had landed in the soybean fields. … They went inside. The young ones shuffled to a stop as their ironic sensibilities, which served them in lieu of souls, were jammed by a signal of overwhelming power. [Neal Stephenson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neal-stephenson.md) · [Reamde](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neal-stephenson/reamde.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neal-stephenson/reamde/the-walmart-was.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > "It's what we do now instead of bohemias," Harwood says. > > "Instead of what?" > > "Bohemias. Alternative subcultures. They were a crucial aspect of industrial civilization in the two previous centuries. They were where industrial civilization went to dream. A sort of unconscious R&D, exploring alternate societal strategies…And they did, frequently, have locales with which they became associated. But they became extinct." > > "Extinct?" > > "We started picking them before they could ripen…as marketing evolved and the mechanisms of recommodification became quicker, more rapacious. Authentic subcultures required backwaters, and time, and there are no more backwaters." [William Gibson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-gibson.md) · [All Tomorrow's Parties](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-gibson/all-tomorrows-parties.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-gibson/all-tomorrows-parties/its-what-we-do-now.md) Topics: [culture](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/culture.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > … The problem is the inflated role that consumption has come to play in our particular era. [Naomi Klein](https://www.leafyquotes.com/naomi-klein.md) · [This Changes Everything](https://www.leafyquotes.com/naomi-klein/this-changes-everything.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/naomi-klein/this-changes-everything/the-problem-is-the.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > Climate change demands that we consume less, but being consumers is all we know. Climate change is not a problem that can be solved simply by changing what we buy—a hybrid instead of an SUV, some carbon offsets when we get on a plane. At its core, it is a crisis born of overconsumption by the comparatively wealthy, which means the world’s most manic consumers are going to have to consume less. [Naomi Klein](https://www.leafyquotes.com/naomi-klein.md) · [This Changes Everything](https://www.leafyquotes.com/naomi-klein/this-changes-everything.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/naomi-klein/this-changes-everything/climate-change-demands.md) Topics: [ecology](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/ecology.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > …soldiers on the battlefield of consumerism, armed with vinyl-covered checkbooks and quilted handbags. [Gillian Flynn](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gillian-flynn.md) · [Gone Girl](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gillian-flynn/gone-girl.md) · p. 72 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gillian-flynn/gone-girl/soldiers-on-the.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > The woman stared at me. “You don’t know a church of the living God when you see one?” > > I looked around me, at the aisles covered with plastic-sealed merchandise, at the racks of colored clothing and electronic equipment and rifles and golf clubs and jackets. “But this is no church,” I said. “This is a store.” [Walter Tevis](https://www.leafyquotes.com/walter-tevis.md) · [Mockingbird](https://www.leafyquotes.com/walter-tevis/mockingbird.md) · p. 189 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/walter-tevis/mockingbird/the-woman-stared.md) Topics: [irony](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/irony.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > Spending is an opiate to many people, a balm to disappointments, frustrations, emptiness. If the individual transforms that inner distress, there is less need for drugs and distractions. [Marilyn Ferguson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/marilyn-ferguson.md) · [The Aquarian Conspiracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/marilyn-ferguson/the-aquarian-conspiracy.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/marilyn-ferguson/the-aquarian-conspiracy/spending-is-an-opiate.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > Religious holidays... have become shopping festivals. [Yuval Noah Harari](https://www.leafyquotes.com/yuval-noah-harari.md) · [Sapiens](https://www.leafyquotes.com/yuval-noah-harari/sapiens.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/yuval-noah-harari/sapiens/religious-holidays-have.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > Consumerism sees the consumption of ever more... as a... positive... It encourages people to treat themselves, spoil themselves.., even kill themselves slowly by . [Yuval Noah Harari](https://www.leafyquotes.com/yuval-noah-harari.md) · [Sapiens](https://www.leafyquotes.com/yuval-noah-harari/sapiens.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/yuval-noah-harari/sapiens/consumerism-sees-the.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > One of history's few iron laws is that luxuries tend to become necessities and to spawn new obligations. Once people get used to a certain luxury, they take it for granted. Then they begin to count on it. Finally, they reach a point where they can't live without it. [Yuval Noah Harari](https://www.leafyquotes.com/yuval-noah-harari.md) · [Sapiens](https://www.leafyquotes.com/yuval-noah-harari/sapiens.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/yuval-noah-harari/sapiens/one-of-historys.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > Something is profoundly wrong with the way we live today. For thirty years we have made a virtue out of the pursuit of material self-interest: indeed, this very pursuit now constitutes whatever remains of our sense of collective purpose. We know what things cost but have no idea what they are worth. We no longer ask of a judicial ruling or a legislative act: is it good? Is it fair? Is it just? Is it right? Will it help bring about a better society or a better world? Those used to be the political questions, even if they invited no easy answers. We must learn once again to pose them. [Tony Judt](https://www.leafyquotes.com/tony-judt.md) · [Ill Fares The Land](https://www.leafyquotes.com/tony-judt/ill-fares-the-land.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/tony-judt/ill-fares-the-land/something-is-profoundly.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md), [materialism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/materialism.md) > All the news stories were telling me to be frightened. All the commercials were telling me to buy things I didn´t need. The message was that people could only be passive victims or consumers. [John Twelve Hawks](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-twelve-hawks.md) · [The Traveler](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-twelve-hawks/the-traveler.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-twelve-hawks/the-traveler/all-the-news.md) Topics: [fear](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fear.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > Now we go off to the office and come home in the evenings to cheap chicken and frozen peas. Very nice, but too much of it, too easy and regular, served up without effort or wanting. We eat, we are lucky, our faces are shining with fat, but we don't know the pleasure of being hungry any more. [Laurie Lee](https://www.leafyquotes.com/laurie-lee.md) · [I Can't Stay Long](https://www.leafyquotes.com/laurie-lee/i-cant-stay-long.md) · p. 65 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/laurie-lee/i-cant-stay-long/now-we-go-off.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > Increase of population was always good news to us. More people, more sales. Decrease of IQ was always good news to us. Less brains, more sales. [Frederik Pohl](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frederik-pohl.md) · [The Space Merchants](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frederik-pohl/the-space-merchants.md) · p. 111 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frederik-pohl/the-space-merchants/increase-of-population.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md), [advertising](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/advertising.md) > No group is able, and few are willing, to stand up to the potent homogenizing forces of advanced industrial society. All Americans, from African Americans to Greek Americans, buy the same goods, look at the same movies and television, pursue the same activities and have—more or less—the same desires for success. [Russell Jacoby](https://www.leafyquotes.com/russell-jacoby.md) · [The End Of Utopia](https://www.leafyquotes.com/russell-jacoby/the-end-of-utopia.md) · p. 48 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/russell-jacoby/the-end-of-utopia/no-group-is-able.md) Topics: [conformity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/conformity.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > The consumer society is so all-pervasive today that it is easy to assume it has always existed. Yet in reality it is one of the more recent innovations that propelled the West ahead of the Rest. Its most striking characteristic is its seemingly irresistible appeal... The result is one of the greatest paradoxes of modern history: that an economic system designed to offer infinite choice to the individual has ended up homogenizing humanity. [Niall Ferguson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/niall-ferguson.md) · [Civilization](https://www.leafyquotes.com/niall-ferguson/civilization.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/niall-ferguson/civilization/the-consumer-society.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > “Earth, Earth,” the short, alien Carmody mused. “I think I remember the name now. There was a recent study of isolated worlds and the peculiarities of their development. Earth was mentioned as a planet covered with an obsessively overproductive species. Object manipulation is their outstanding modality. Their project is an attempt to live in their own, ever-accumulating waste products. In short, Earth is diseased place. I believe it is being phased out of the Galactic Master Plan on the basis of chronic cosmic incompatibility. The place will then be rehabilitated and turned into a refuge for daffodils.” [Robert Sheckley](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-sheckley.md) · [Dimension of Miracles](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-sheckley/dimension-of-miracles.md) · p. 29 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-sheckley/dimension-of-miracles/earth-earth-the.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [ecology](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/ecology.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > What makes the spectacle of Western bourgeois society so repulsive is the waste and squander of resources on needless products of status or display (e.g., the large, heavy automobile; the extravagant packaging of consumer items) for the sake of consumption. [Daniel A. Bell](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-a-bell.md) · [The Cultural Contradictions Of Capitalism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-a-bell/the-cultural-contradictions-of-capitalism.md) · p. 274 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-a-bell/the-cultural-contradictions-of-capitalism/what-makes-the.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > The one thing that would utterly destroy the new capitalism is the serious practice of deferred gratification. [Daniel A. Bell](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-a-bell.md) · [The Cultural Contradictions Of Capitalism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-a-bell/the-cultural-contradictions-of-capitalism.md) · p. 78 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-a-bell/the-cultural-contradictions-of-capitalism/the-one-thing.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > Two centuries ago, our forbears would have known the precise history and origin of nearly every one of the limited number of things they ate and owned, as well as of the people and tools involved in their production. … The range of items available for purchase may have grown exponentially since then. but our understanding of their genesis has diminished almost to the point of obscurity. We are now as imaginatively disconnected from the manufacture and distribution of our goods as we are practically in reach of them, a process of alienation which has stripped us of myriad opportunities for wonder, gratitude and guilt. [Alain de Botton](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alain-de-botton.md) · [The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alain-de-botton/the-pleasures-and-sorrows-of-work.md) · p. 35 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alain-de-botton/the-pleasures-and-sorrows-of-work/two-centuries-ago.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > Workers were occupied with the ancient task of trying to stay alive, which simply happened to require, in a consumer economy overwhelmingly based on the satisfaction of peripheral desires, a series of activities all to easily confused with clownishness. [Alain de Botton](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alain-de-botton.md) · [The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alain-de-botton/the-pleasures-and-sorrows-of-work.md) · p. 97 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alain-de-botton/the-pleasures-and-sorrows-of-work/workers-were-occupied.md) Topics: [work](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/work.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > Aside from the equation it draws between making money and being good, the modern ideal of a successful life posits a further linkage between making money and being happy. This latter association rests on … assumptions. First, it is presumed that identifying what will make us happy is not an inordinately difficult task. Just as our bodies typically know what they need in order to be healthy… so, too, the theory goes, can our minds to be relied upon to understand what we should aim for so as to flourish as whole human beings. … Second, it is taken for granted that the enormous range of … consumer goods available to modern civilization is not merely a gaudy, enervating show responsible for stoking desires bearing little relevance to our welfare, but is, rather, a helpful array of potentialities and products, capable of satisfying some of our most important needs. [Alain de Botton](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alain-de-botton.md) · [Status Anxiety](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alain-de-botton/status-anxiety.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alain-de-botton/status-anxiety/aside-from-the.md) Topics: [happiness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/happiness.md), [money](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/money.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > The "cumulative effects" of unbridled commercialism, however difficult to assess, constitute one key to the impact of growing up in the core of the world's marketing system. Minimally, it suggests unpreparedness for, and lack of interest in, the world that exists outside the shopping mall. [Herbert I. Schiller](https://www.leafyquotes.com/herbert-i-schiller.md) · [Living in the Number One Country](https://www.leafyquotes.com/herbert-i-schiller/living-in-the-number-one-country.md) · p. 171 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/herbert-i-schiller/living-in-the-number-one-country/the-cumulative-effects.md) Topics: [children](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/children.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > Popular dissatisfaction seems to occur only when the shopping or the commercials are interrupted. In such an atmosphere, is there any reason to imagine that saturation shopping could be a source of instability to the U.S. world position? [Herbert I. Schiller](https://www.leafyquotes.com/herbert-i-schiller.md) · [Living in the Number One Country](https://www.leafyquotes.com/herbert-i-schiller/living-in-the-number-one-country.md) · p. 198 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/herbert-i-schiller/living-in-the-number-one-country/popular-dissatisfaction-seems.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > Kyoto questions the philosophies underpinning societies such as America and Australia, which cling to the myth of limitless growth. [Tim Flannery](https://www.leafyquotes.com/tim-flannery.md) · [The Weather Makers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/tim-flannery/the-weather-makers.md) · p. 237 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/tim-flannery/the-weather-makers/kyoto-questions-the.md) Topics: [ecology](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/ecology.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > We need not seek our own best selves, and in the meantime we inoculate ourselves against the viruses of age and idealism, which, as the advertising agencies well know, depress sales and sour the feasts of consumption. [Lewis Lapham](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lewis-lapham.md) · [Waiting for the Barbarians](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lewis-lapham/waiting-for-the-barbarians.md) · p. 197 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lewis-lapham/waiting-for-the-barbarians/we-need-not.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md), [idealism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/idealism.md) > ...because of the myth of progress, it is much easier to sell a man an electric razor than a straight-edged one. [Jacques Ellul](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jacques-ellul.md) · [Propaganda](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jacques-ellul/propaganda.md) · p. 41 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jacques-ellul/propaganda/because-of-the.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > For average working folks, America was becoming a puzzle. Who was buying all these two-hundred-dollar copper saucepans, anyway? And how was everyone paying for these BMWs? Were people shrewd or just stupefyingly irresponsible? [Daniel Suárez](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-suarez.md) · [Daemon](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-suarez/daemon.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-suarez/daemon/for-average-working.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md), [materialism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/materialism.md) > But where will this mania for entertainment end? What will people do when they get tired of television? When they get tired of movies? We already know the answer—they go into participatory activities: sports, theme parks, amusement rides, roller coasters. Structured fun, planned thrills. And what will they do when they tire of theme parks and planned thrills? Sooner or later, the artifice becomes too noticeable. They begin to realize that an amusement park is really a kind of jail, in which you pay to be an inmate. [Michael Crichton](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-crichton.md) · [Timeline](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-crichton/timeline.md) · p. 443 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-crichton/timeline/but-where-will.md) Topics: [boredom](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/boredom.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > Everybody feels he has a right to a life of luxury — or at least comfort — so there’s a lot of frustration and resentment when the dream craps out. [Gregory Benford](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gregory-benford.md) · [Timescape](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gregory-benford/timescape.md) · p. 136 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gregory-benford/timescape/everybody-feels-he-has.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md), [disappointment](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/disappointment.md) > Paradoxically, what keeps the so called consumer society going is the fact that trying to find yourself through things doesn’t work: The ego satisfaction is short lived and so you keep looking for more, keep buying, keep consuming. [Eckhart Tolle](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eckhart-tolle.md) · [A New Earth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eckhart-tolle/a-new-earth.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eckhart-tolle/a-new-earth/paradoxically-what-keeps.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md), [ego](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/ego.md) > Ego identification with things creates attachment to things, obsession with things, which in turn creates our consumer society and economic structures where the only measure of progress is always more. [Eckhart Tolle](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eckhart-tolle.md) · [A New Earth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eckhart-tolle/a-new-earth.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eckhart-tolle/a-new-earth/ego-identification-with.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md), [Attachment](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attachment.md) > The people in the advertising industry know very well that in order to sell things that people don’t really need, they must convince them that those things will add something to how they see themselves or are seen by others; in other words, add something to their sense of self. They do this, for example, by telling you that you will stand out from the crowd by using this product and so by implication be more fully yourself. [Eckhart Tolle](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eckhart-tolle.md) · [A New Earth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eckhart-tolle/a-new-earth.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eckhart-tolle/a-new-earth/the-people-in-the.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md), [advertising](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/advertising.md) > Whoever dies with the most stuff wins. [David Mitchell](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-mitchell.md) · [Number9Dream](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-mitchell/number9dream.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-mitchell/number9dream/whoever-dies-with.md) Topics: [irony](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/irony.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > Publicity is usually explained and justified as a competitive medium which ultimately benefits the public (the consumer) and the most efficient manufacturers - and thus the national economy. It is closely related to certain ideas about freedom: freedom of choice for the purchaser: freedom of enterprise for the manufacturer. The great hoardings and the publicity neons of the cities of capitalism are the immediate visible sign of "The Free World." For many in Eastern Europe such images in the West sum up what they in the East lack. Publicity, it is thought, offers a free choice. [John Berger](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-berger.md) · [Ways of Seeing](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-berger/ways-of-seeing.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-berger/ways-of-seeing/publicity-is-usually.md) Topics: [freedom](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/freedom.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md), [advertising](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/advertising.md) > Glamour cannot exist without personal social envy being a common and widespread emotion. The industrial society which has moved towards democracy and then stopped half way is the ideal society for generating such an emotion. The pursuit of individual happiness has been acknowledged as a universal right. Yet the existing social conditions make the individual feel powerless. [John Berger](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-berger.md) · [Ways of Seeing](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-berger/ways-of-seeing.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-berger/ways-of-seeing/glamour-cannot-exist.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md), [jealousy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/jealousy.md) > Happiness is a myth, which was invented to make us buy things. [Gregory David Roberts](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gregory-david-roberts.md) · [Shantaram](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gregory-david-roberts/shantaram.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gregory-david-roberts/shantaram/happiness-is-a-myth.md) Topics: [happiness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/happiness.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > You have a class of young strong men and women, and they want to give their lives to something. Advertising has these people chasing cars and clothes they don't need. Generations have been working in jobs they hate, just so they can buy what they don't really need. [Chuck Palahniuk](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk.md) · [Fight Club](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/fight-club.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/fight-club/you-have-a-class.md) Topics: [work](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/work.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > You buy furniture. You tell yourself, this is the last sofa I will ever need in my life. Buy the sofa, then for a couple years you're satisfied that no matter what goes wrong, at least you've got your sofa issue handled. Then the right set of dishes. Then the perfect bed. The drapes. The rug. > > Then you're trapped in your lovely nest, and the things you used to own, now they own you. [Chuck Palahniuk](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk.md) · [Fight Club](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/fight-club.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/fight-club/you-buy-furniture.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > Making enough money to become an effective consumer takes time, dedication, devotion. The wait is miserable. It never occurred that the objective was flawed and the rules were skewed. [Russell Brand](https://www.leafyquotes.com/russell-brand.md) · [Revolution](https://www.leafyquotes.com/russell-brand/revolution.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/russell-brand/revolution/making-enough-money.md) Topics: [money](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/money.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > This market way of life promotes addictions to stimulation and obsessions with comfort and convenience. (p29) [Cornel West](https://www.leafyquotes.com/cornel-west.md) · [Race Matters](https://www.leafyquotes.com/cornel-west/race-matters.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/cornel-west/race-matters/this-market-way.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md), [comfort](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/comfort.md) > (War) has lodged in our souls as a kind of religion, a quick tonic for political malaise and a bracing antidote to the moral torpor of consumerist, market-driven cultures. [Barbara Ehrenreich](https://www.leafyquotes.com/barbara-ehrenreich.md) · [Blood Rites](https://www.leafyquotes.com/barbara-ehrenreich/blood-rites.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/barbara-ehrenreich/blood-rites/war-has-lodged.md) Topics: [war](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/war.md), [religion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/religion.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > Whenever we engage in consumption or production patterns which take more than we need, we are engaging in violence. (p116) [Vandana Shiva](https://www.leafyquotes.com/vandana-shiva.md) · [Earth Democracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/vandana-shiva/earth-democracy.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/vandana-shiva/earth-democracy/whenever-we-engage.md) Topics: [violence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/violence.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > "We can't do anything to change the world until capitalism crumbles. In the meantime we should all go shopping to console ourselves." [Banksy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/banksy.md) · [Wall and Piece](https://www.leafyquotes.com/banksy/wall-and-piece.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/banksy/wall-and-piece/we-cant-do-anything.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > (The) pattern of consumption is markedly more equal than in Britain. ‘Prestige-goods’ are widely distributed, and there is less conspicuous contrast between the standard of living of different income-groups. To take the most obvious example, almost every family owns a car; and this is significant not only because a car is the most conspicuous of all consumption goods, but also because universal car-ownership leads to the universal consumption of other conspicuous or semi-luxury goods – holidays, hotels, middle-class habits of shopping, etc. But the lack of external class-distinctions can be observed in many other spheres: e.g. clothes, eating-habits, drug-stores, the ownership of consumer durables, and so on. [Anthony Crosland](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-crosland.md) · [The Future of Socialism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-crosland/the-future-of-socialism.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-crosland/the-future-of-socialism/the-pattern-of-consumption.md) Topics: [equality](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/equality.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > I am the only child of parents who weighed, measured, and priced everything; for whom what could not be weighed, measured, and priced, had no existence. [Charles Dickens](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens.md) · [Little Dorrit](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens/little-dorrit.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens/little-dorrit/i-am-the.md) Topics: [money](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/money.md), [parents](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/parents.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > It continues to astound him that people can be as clever as people are in the computer industry, yet have no outside interests beyond cars and house prices. — Chapter 18, page 149. [J. M. Coetzee](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-m-coetzee.md) · [Youth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-m-coetzee/youth.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-m-coetzee/youth/it-continues-to-astound.md) Topics: [work](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/work.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > Aside from earning their livings, what did your people do, mostly? Games. Sports. Casinos. Loud machines that went fast. Shopping. Lawsuits blaming other for whatever went wrong. What did they believe in? Conspiracy theories. Racial superiority. Heroes with superpowers. Faith healers. God-loves-you religions. State-supported lotteries. All that enormous energy expended to conquer nothing at all, stadia full of people watching no conquering going on. For every scientist or person in government who really tried to conquer, there were a thousand people buying lottery tickets, drinking beer, watching football, and growing old. [Sheri S. Tepper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper.md) · [The Visitor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/the-visitor.md) · p. 460 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/the-visitor/aside-from-earning.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md), [play](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/play.md), [emptiness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/emptiness.md) > Faced with a choice between the survival of the planet and a new set of matching tableware, most people would choose the tableware. [George Monbiot](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-monbiot.md) · [Heat](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-monbiot/heat.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-monbiot/heat/faced-with-a-choice.md) Topics: [ecology](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/ecology.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > From a Buddhist point of view, this is standing the truth on its head by considering goods as more important than people and consumption as more important than creative activity. It means shifting the emphasis from the worker to the product of work, that is, from the human to the sub-human, surrender to the forces of evil. [E. F. Schumacher](https://www.leafyquotes.com/e-f-schumacher.md) · [A Guide For the Perplexed](https://www.leafyquotes.com/e-f-schumacher/a-guide-for-the-perplexed.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/e-f-schumacher/a-guide-for-the-perplexed/from-a-buddhist.md) Topics: [work](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/work.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > Shotgunning anybody in this room would be the moral equivalent of killing a car, a vacuum cleaner, a Barbie doll. Erasing a computer disk. Burning a book. Probably that goes for killing anyone in the world. We're all such products. [Chuck Palahniuk](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk.md) · [Invisible Monsters](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/invisible-monsters.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/invisible-monsters/shotgunning-anybody-in-this.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > "The more advertising I see, the less I want to buy." [Tom Robbins](https://www.leafyquotes.com/tom-robbins.md) · [Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates](https://www.leafyquotes.com/tom-robbins/fierce-invalids-home-from-hot-climates.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/tom-robbins/fierce-invalids-home-from-hot-climates/the-more-advertising.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md), [advertising](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/advertising.md) > The assumption that everyone else is like you. That you are the world. The disease of consumer capitalism. The complacent solipsism. [David Foster Wallace](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-foster-wallace.md) · [The Pale King](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-foster-wallace/the-pale-king.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-foster-wallace/the-pale-king/the-assumption-that.md) Topics: [selfishness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/selfishness.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > A city that pretends to be nothing but what it is, an enormous machine of exchange - of spectacle for money, of sensation for money, of money for more money, of pleasure for whatever be tomorrow's abstract cost. [David Foster Wallace](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-foster-wallace.md) · [Consider The Lobster](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-foster-wallace/consider-the-lobster.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-foster-wallace/consider-the-lobster/a-city-that.md) Topics: [money](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/money.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > Like so many Americans, she was trying to construct a life that made sense from things she found in gift shops. (p. 39) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kurt-vonnegut.md) · [Slaughterhouse-Five](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kurt-vonnegut/slaughterhouse-five.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kurt-vonnegut/slaughterhouse-five/like-so-many.md) Topics: [America](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/america.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > Let’s have a toast—to the future generation of consumers, however many heads or assholes they have! [Brian Aldiss](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brian-aldiss.md) · [Greybeard](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brian-aldiss/greybeard.md) · p. 112 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brian-aldiss/greybeard/lets-have-a-toast-to.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > Relax, enjoy yourself. Have another drink. It’s patriotic to overconsume. [Brian Aldiss](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brian-aldiss.md) · [Greybeard](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brian-aldiss/greybeard.md) · p. 121 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brian-aldiss/greybeard/relax-enjoy-yourself.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md), [patriotism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/patriotism.md) > Charlie really has this, like, obsessive death wish! Yes! he, he wants to be caught, processed, put in a can, not just any can, you dig, it has to be StarKist! suicidal brand loyalty, man, deep parable of consumer capitalism, they won't be happy with anything less than drift-netting us all, chopping us up and stacking us on the shelves of Supermarket Amerika, and subconsciously the horrible thing is, is we want them to do it... [Thomas Pynchon](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-pynchon.md) · [Inherent Vice](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-pynchon/inherent-vice.md) · p. 119 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-pynchon/inherent-vice/charlie-really-has.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md), [capitalism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/capitalism.md) > The neo-conservative critics of leftist critics of mass culture ridicule the protest against Bach as background music in the kitchen, against Plato and Hegel, Shelley and Baudelaire, Marx and Freud in the drugstore. Instead, they insist on recognition of the fact that the classics have left the mausoleum and come to life again, that people are just so much more educated. True, but coming to life as classics, they come to life as other than themselves; they are deprived of their antagonistic force, of the estrangement which was the very dimension of their truth. [Herbert Marcuse](https://www.leafyquotes.com/herbert-marcuse.md) · [One-Dimensional Man](https://www.leafyquotes.com/herbert-marcuse/one-dimensional-man.md) · p. 64 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/herbert-marcuse/one-dimensional-man/the-neo-conservative-critics.md) Topics: [culture](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/culture.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > We used to build civilizations. Now we build shopping malls. [Bill Bryson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bill-bryson.md) · [Neither Here Nor There](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bill-bryson/neither-here-nor-there.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bill-bryson/neither-here-nor-there/we-used-to-build.md) Topics: [civilization](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/civilization.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > But we rarely taste the real thing. The vanilla flavoring we buy in the spice section of grocery stores, the vanilla we find in most of our ice creams, cakes, yogurts, and other foods, as well as in shampoos and perfumes, is an artificial flavor created in laboratories and mixed with alcohol and other ingredients. Marshall McLuhan once warned us that we were drifting so far away from the real taste of life that we had begun to prefer artificiality, and were becoming content with eating the menu descriptions rather than the food. [Diane Ackerman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/diane-ackerman.md) · [A Natural History of the Senses](https://www.leafyquotes.com/diane-ackerman/a-natural-history-of-the-senses.md) · p. 158 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/diane-ackerman/a-natural-history-of-the-senses/but-we-rarely.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > No matter how many luxuries you get, something will be missing. No matter how carefully you choose, you'll never be totally happy. [Chuck Palahniuk](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk.md) · [Survivor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/survivor.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/survivor/no-matter-how.md) Topics: [happiness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/happiness.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > A village in a country which is taking pains to become altogether standardized and pure, which aspires to succeed Victorian England as the chief mediocrity of the world, is no longer merely provincial, no longer downy and restful in its leaf-shadowed ignorance. It is a force seeking to conquer the earth... Sure of itself, it bullies other civilizations, as a traveling salesman in a brown derby conquers the wisdom of China and tacks advertisements of cigarettes over arches for centuries dedicate to the sayings of Confucius. Such a society functions admirably in the production of cheap automobiles, dollar watches, and safety razors. But it is not satisfied until the entire world also admits that the end and joyous purpose of living is to ride in flivvers, to make advertising-pictures of dollar watches, and in the twilight to sit talking not of love and courage but of the convenience of safety razors. [Sinclair Lewis](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sinclair-lewis.md) · [Main Street](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sinclair-lewis/main-street.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sinclair-lewis/main-street/a-village-in-a-country.md) Topics: [America](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/america.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > Just as he was an Elk, a Booster, and a member of the Chamber of Commerce, just as the priests of the Presbyterian Church determined his every religious belief and the senators who controlled the Republican Party decided in little smoky rooms in Washington what he should think about disarmament, tariff, and Germany, so did the large national advertisers fix the surface of his life, fix what he believed to be his individuality. These standard advertised wares—toothpastes, socks, tires, cameras, instantaneous hot-water heaters—were his symbols and proofs of excellence; at first sight the signs, then the substitutes, for joy and passion and wisdom. ~ Ch. 7 [Sinclair Lewis](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sinclair-lewis.md) · [Babbitt](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sinclair-lewis/babbitt.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sinclair-lewis/babbitt/just-as-he-was.md) Topics: [conformity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/conformity.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md), [advertising](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/advertising.md) > I seek only to point out that the principle of accumulation based on inequality was a vital part of the pre-war order of Society and of progress as we then understood it, and to emphasize that this principle depended on unstable psychological conditions, which it may be impossible to recreate. It was not natural for a population, of whom so few enjoyed the comforts of life, to accumulate so hugely. The war has disclosed the possibility of consumption to all and the vanity of abstinence to many. Thus the bluff is discovered; the labouring classes may be no longer willing to forgo so largely, and the capitalist classes, no longer confident of the future, may seek to enjoy more fully their liberties of consumption so long as they last, and thus precipitate the hour of their confiscation. [John Maynard Keynes](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-maynard-keynes.md) · [The Economic Consequences of the Peace](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-maynard-keynes/the-economic-consequences-of-the-peace.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-maynard-keynes/the-economic-consequences-of-the-peace/i-seek-only.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md), [capitalism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/capitalism.md) > It is a major defect of our present organized system and the economy of abundance that, without providing great goals, it has taken away some of the important real necessities, leaving people with nothing to do. > > The void is soon filled. Behavior like going into debt on the installment plan, gives an artificial but then real necessity, something to do, paying up. This is the Rat Race, but I doubt that it would be run if people did not need its justifying necessity, for the commodities themselves are not that attractive. [Paul Goodman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paul-goodman.md) · [Growing Up Absurd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paul-goodman/growing-up-absurd.md) · p. 154 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paul-goodman/growing-up-absurd/it-is-a-major.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md), [emptiness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/emptiness.md) > The irony is that in our decades, the combination of rationalism, asceticism, and individualism (the so-called Protestant Ethic) has produced precisely the system of boondoggling, luxury-consumption, and status. [Paul Goodman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paul-goodman.md) · [Growing Up Absurd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paul-goodman/growing-up-absurd.md) · p. 143 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paul-goodman/growing-up-absurd/the-irony-is-that.md) Topics: [irony](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/irony.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md), [capitalism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/capitalism.md) > "Tibetans try to see death for what it is. It is the end of attachment to things. ... We don't have to cling to life artificially, or to death for that matter. We simply walk toward the sliding doors. Waves and radiation. Look how well-lighted everything is. The place is sealed off, self-contained. It is timeless. Another reason why I think of Tibet. Dying is an art in Tibet. A priest walks in, sits down, tells the weeping relatives to get out and has the room sealed. Doors, windows sealed. He has serious business to see to. Chants, numerology, horoscopes, recitations. Here we don't die, we shop. But the difference is less marked than you think." - Murray [Don DeLillo](https://www.leafyquotes.com/don-delillo.md) · [White Noise](https://www.leafyquotes.com/don-delillo/white-noise.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/don-delillo/white-noise/tibetans-try-to-see.md) Topics: [death](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/death.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > “Once you’re out of school, it is only a matter of time before you experience the vast loneliness and dissatisfaction of consumers who have lost their group identity.”- Murray [Don DeLillo](https://www.leafyquotes.com/don-delillo.md) · [White Noise](https://www.leafyquotes.com/don-delillo/white-noise.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/don-delillo/white-noise/once-youre-out.md) Topics: [loneliness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/loneliness.md), [identity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/identity.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > "Waves of relief and gratitude flowed over me. The system had blessed my life. I felt its support and approval." - Jack, at the ATM. [Don DeLillo](https://www.leafyquotes.com/don-delillo.md) · [White Noise](https://www.leafyquotes.com/don-delillo/white-noise.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/don-delillo/white-noise/waves-of-relief.md) Topics: [money](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/money.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > The mountains of things we throw away are much greater than the things we use. In this, if in no other way, we can see the wild and reckless exuberance of our production, and waste seems to be the index. [John Steinbeck](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-steinbeck.md) · [Travels with Charley in Search of America](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-steinbeck/travels-with-charley-in-search-of-america.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-steinbeck/travels-with-charley-in-search-of-america/the-mountains-of-things.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > How many people ruin themselves by laying out money on trinkets of frivolous utility? What pleases these lovers of toys is not so much the utility, as the aptness of the machines which are fitted to promote it. All their pockets are stuffed with little conveniences. They contrive new pockets, unknown in the clothes of other people, in order to carry a greater number. They walk about loaded with a multitude of baubles, in weight and sometimes in value not inferior to an ordinary Jew's-box, some of which may sometimes be of some little use, but all of which might at all times be very well spared, and of which the whole utility is certainly not worth the fatigue of bearing the burden. [Adam Smith](https://www.leafyquotes.com/adam-smith.md) · [The Theory of Moral Sentiments](https://www.leafyquotes.com/adam-smith/the-theory-of-moral-sentiments.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/adam-smith/the-theory-of-moral-sentiments/how-many-people.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > In a community wherepublic services have failed to keep abreast of private consumption things are very different. Here, in an atmosphere of private opulence and public squalor, the private goods have full sway. [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-kenneth-galbraith.md) · [The Affluent Society](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-kenneth-galbraith/the-affluent-society.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-kenneth-galbraith/the-affluent-society/in-a-community.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md), [social inequality](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/social-inequality.md) > One man's consumption becomes his neighbor's wish. [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-kenneth-galbraith.md) · [The Affluent Society](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-kenneth-galbraith/the-affluent-society.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-kenneth-galbraith/the-affluent-society/one-mans-consumption.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md), [jealousy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/jealousy.md) > We do not manufacture wants for goods we do not produce. [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-kenneth-galbraith.md) · [The Affluent Society](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-kenneth-galbraith/the-affluent-society.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-kenneth-galbraith/the-affluent-society/we-do-not.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > The family which takes its mauve and cerise, air conditioned, power-steered, and power braked automobile out for a tour passes through cities that are badly paved, made hideous by litter, blighted buildings, billboards, and posts for wires that should long since have been put underground. [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-kenneth-galbraith.md) · [The Affluent Society](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-kenneth-galbraith/the-affluent-society.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-kenneth-galbraith/the-affluent-society/the-family-which.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md), [social inequality](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/social-inequality.md) > We Earth Men have a talent for ruining big beautiful things. The only reason we didn’t set up hot-dog stands in the midst of the Egyptian temple of Karnak is because it was out of the way and served no large commercial purpose. [Ray Bradbury](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ray-bradbury.md) · [The Martian Chronicles](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ray-bradbury/the-martian-chronicles.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ray-bradbury/the-martian-chronicles/we-earth-men.md) Topics: [human nature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/human-nature.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > That's the American Dream: to make your life into something you can sell. [Chuck Palahniuk](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk.md) · [Haunted](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/haunted.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/haunted/thats-the-american.md) Topics: [America](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/america.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > The way you can go to Paris or Beijing, Oyster says, and everywhere there's a McDonald's hamburger, this is the ecological equivalent of franchised life-forms. Every place is the same place. Kudzu. Zebra mussels. Water hyacinths. Starlings. Burger Kings. The local natives, anything unique gets squeezed out.. He says, "We're landscaping the whole world one stupid mistake at a time." [Chuck Palahniuk](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk.md) · [Lullaby](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/lullaby.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/lullaby/the-way-you.md) Topics: [ecology](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/ecology.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > The masochist bullies the sadist into action. The most passive person is actually an aggressor. Every day, just you living means the misery and death of plants and animals- and even some people. "Slaughterhouses, factory farms, sweatshops," she says, "like it or not, that's what your money buys." [Chuck Palahniuk](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk.md) · [Lullaby](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/lullaby.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/lullaby/the-masochist-bullies.md) Topics: [responsibility](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/responsibility.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > Take most people, they're crazy about cars. They worry if they get a little scratch on them, and they're always talking about how many miles they get to a gallon, and if they get a brand-new car already they start thinking about trading it in for one that's even newer. I don't even like old cars. I mean they don't even interest me. I'd rather have a goddam horse. A horse is at least human, for God's sake. [J.D. Salinger](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jd-salinger.md) · [The Catcher in the Rye](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jd-salinger/the-catcher-in-the-rye.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jd-salinger/the-catcher-in-the-rye/take-most-people.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > Ending is better than mending. The more stitches, the less riches. [Aldous Huxley](https://www.leafyquotes.com/aldous-huxley.md) · [Brave New World](https://www.leafyquotes.com/aldous-huxley/brave-new-world.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/aldous-huxley/brave-new-world/ending-is-better.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > See the whole thing is a world full of rucksack wanderers, Dharma Bums refusing to subscribe to the general demand that they consume production and therefore have to work for the privilege of consuming, all that crap they didn't really want anyway such as refrigerators, TV sets, cars, and general junk you finally always see a week later in the garbage anyway, all of them imprisoned in a system of work, produce, consume, work, produce, consume, I see a vision of a great rucksack revolution thousands or even millions of young Americans wandering around with rucksacks, going up to mountains to pray, making children laugh and old men glad, making young girls happy and old girls happier, all of 'em Zen Lunatics who go about writing poems that happen to appear in their heads for no reason and also by being kind and also by strange unexpected acts keep giving visions of eternal freedom to everybody and to all living creatures. [Jack Kerouac](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-kerouac.md) · [The Dharma Bums](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-kerouac/the-dharma-bums.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-kerouac/the-dharma-bums/see-the-whole.md) Topics: [freedom](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/freedom.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > Life in Anaheim, California, was a commercial for itself, endlessly replayed. Nothing changed; it just spread out farther and farther in the form of neon ooze. What there was always more of had been congealed into permanence long ago, as if the automatic factory that cranked out these objects had jammed in the on position. [Philip K. Dick](https://www.leafyquotes.com/philip-k-dick.md) · [A Scanner Darkly](https://www.leafyquotes.com/philip-k-dick/a-scanner-darkly.md) · p. 31 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/philip-k-dick/a-scanner-darkly/life-in-anaheim.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md), [cities](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/cities.md) > In the early twentieth century the problem of production had been solved; after that it was the problem of consumption that plagued society. In the 1950s and '60s, consumer commodities and farm products began to pile up in vast towering mountains all over the Western World. As much as possible was given away — but that threatened to subvert the open market. By 1980, the pro tem solution was to heap up the products and burn them: billions of dollars of worth, week after week. [Philip K. Dick](https://www.leafyquotes.com/philip-k-dick.md) · [Solar Lottery](https://www.leafyquotes.com/philip-k-dick/solar-lottery.md) · p. 16 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/philip-k-dick/solar-lottery/in-the-early.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > It occurred to me that everything we buy has been poked or packaged by some unfortunate nitwit with a hairnet and a wad of cotton stuffed into his ears. Every ear of corn, every chocolate-coated raisin or shoelace. Every barbeque tong, paper hat, and store-bought mitten arrives with a history of abject misery. Vegetarians look at a pork roast thinking about the animal. I'd now look at them wondering whose job it was to package the shallow Styrofoam trays. [David Sedaris](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-sedaris.md) · [Naked](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-sedaris/naked.md) · p. 199 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-sedaris/naked/it-occurred-to-me-that.md) Topics: [work](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/work.md), [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md) > Most of the luxuries, and many of the so-called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind. [Henry David Thoreau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-david-thoreau.md) · [Walden](https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-david-thoreau/walden.md) · p. 18 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-david-thoreau/walden/most-of-the.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md), [simplicity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/simplicity.md), [comfort](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/comfort.md) > When buying a tiny slice of a company feels as easy as buying a coffee, investing becomes expressive. People own a piece of something they admire simply because they can. The barrier between consumer and investor behavior dissolves. [Katherine Perry](https://www.leafyquotes.com/katherine-perry.md) · [Ticker Shock: A Playbook for Investor Relations, Communications, and Leadership in the Age of Retail Investors](https://www.leafyquotes.com/katherine-perry/ticker-shock-a-playbook-for-investor-relations-communications-and-leadership-in-the-age-of-retail-investors.md) · Chapter six: Identity, belief, and brand · p. 76 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/katherine-perry/ticker-shock-a-playbook-for-investor-relations-communications-and-leadership-in-the-age-of-retail-investors/when-buying-a-tiny.md) Topics: [consumerism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/consumerism.md)