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A thing is valued, she says, only if it is rare and hard…

“A thing is valued, she says, only if it is rare and hard to get. We want you to be valued, girls. She is rich in pauses, which she savors in her mouth. Think of yourselves as pearls. We, sitting in our rows, eyes down, we make her salivate morally. We are hers to define, we must suffer her…” quote by Margaret Atwood
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““A thing is valued, she says, only if it is rare and hard to get. We want you to be valued, girls. She is rich in pauses, which she savors in her mouth. Think of yourselves as pearls. We, sitting in our rows, eyes down, we make her salivate morally. We are hers to define, we must suffer her adjectives.””

Margaret Atwood

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Explores how rarity and difficulty create value, using metaphor of pearls and moral salivation.

In simple terms: Rare things are valued more.

Key Takeaway

Recognize value in scarcity.

Themes

value perception gender dynamics social hierarchy

Mood

reflective critical

Type

literary analytical

When to use this quote

  • marketing
  • fashion industry
  • relationship dynamics

Key Concepts

rarity desire power structures

Questions to Reflect On

  • Why do we equate rarity with worth?
  • How does scarcity shape desire?
A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on rarity can foster inequality.

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