--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The conversation of most middle-class…" description: "\"The conversation of most middle-class Americans, we are told, revolves around consumption: what to buy, what was just bought, where to eat, the price o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/225/brennan-manning-959_car_the-conversation-of-most-middle-class-am_1871809.jpg" --- # The conversation of most middle-class Americans, we are… ![“The conversation of most middle-class Americans, we are told, revolves around consumption: what to buy, what was just bought, where to eat, the price of the neighbor's house, what's on sale this week, our clothes or someone else's, the best car on the market this year, where to spend a vacation…” quote by Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/225/brennan-manning-959_car_the-conversation-of-most-middle-class-am_1871809.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/225/brennan-manning-959_car_the-conversation-of-most-middle-class-am_1871809.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/225/brennan-manning-959_car_the-conversation-of-most-middle-class-am_1871809.jpg) > “The conversation of most middle-class Americans, we are told, revolves around consumption: what to buy, what was just bought, where to eat, the price of the neighbor's house, what's on sale this week, our clothes or someone else's, the best car on the market this year, where to spend a vacation. Apparently we can't stop eating, shopping, or consuming. Success is measured not in terms of love, wisdom, and maturity but by the size of one's pile of possessions.” [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critiques consumer-driven identity, suggesting true success lies in love, wisdom, and maturity rather than material accumulation. **In simple terms:** Success is about inner growth, not possessions. Key Takeaway Prioritize relationships and personal development. Themes consumerism identity values Mood reflective critical Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - family gatherings - financial planning - career decisions - personal reflection Key Concepts materialism social comparison self-worth Questions to Reflect On - What defines your personal success? - How can you shift focus from possessions to relationships? A Different Perspective Material wealth can provide comfort but not fulfillment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Car](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/car/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Clothes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clothes/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Consumerism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumerism/) [Consuming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consuming/) [Consuming Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consuming-success-2587202/) [Consumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumption/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Eating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eating/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Love wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-wisdom/) [Maturity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maturity/) [Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle/) [Middle class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-class/) [Neighbor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighbor/) [Overconsumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overconsumption/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) [Revolves Consumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolves-consumption-2587203/) [Shopping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shopping/) [Shopping Consuming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shopping-consuming-2587201/) [Size](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/size/) [Success is measured](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-is-measured/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Vacation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vacation/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [The cultural propaganda embodied in two liquor advertisements, "Living well is the best revenge" and "Sip it with arrogance," have a curious, perhaps demonic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/the-cultural-propaganda-embodied-in-two-liquor-advertisements-living/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [Let us be bold enough to ask ourselves as Christians whether the Church of the Lord Jesus in the United States has anything to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/let-us-be-bold-enough-to-ask-ourselves-as-christians-whether-the/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [Success and excellence are not the same. Excellence grows within a person, is largely within that person's control, and its meaning lasts. Success is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-paterno/success-and-excellence-are-not-the-same-excellence-grows-within-a/) [Joe Paterno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-paterno/) > [Our success is measured by personal beliefs, not by anybody else's standards or beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-success-is-measured-by-personal-beliefs-not-by-anybody-else-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are no bad business and investment opportunities, but there are bad entrepreneurs and investors. To be a successful business owner and investor, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/there-are-no-bad-business-and-investment-opportunities-but-there-are/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [The size of success is measured by the Weighing Scales in pound unit of your persistent action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ky-vanchhay/the-size-of-success-is-measured-by-the-weighing-scales-in-pound-unit/) [Ky Vanchhay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ky-vanchhay/) > [“To have regret is to be disappointed with yourself and your choices. Those who are wise, see their life like stepping stones across a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/to-have-regret-is-to-be-disappointed-with-yourself-and-your-choices/) [Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/) > [Success is measured not so much by the position that one has reached, but rather by how many obstacles one has had to overcome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/success-is-measured-not-so-much-by-the-position-that-one-has-reached/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Success is not measured by what you do compared to what somebody else does. Success is measured by what you do compared to what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/success-is-not-measured-by-what-you-do-compared-to-what-somebody-else/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Progress must not become progressivism, where success is measured only by achieving pragmatic results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mal-fletcher/progress-must-not-become-progressivism-where-success-is-measured-only/) [Mal Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mal-fletcher/) > [Success is not measured by what a man accomplishes, but by the opposition he has encountered and the courage with which he has maintained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/success-is-not-measured-by-what-a-man-accomplishes-but-by-the/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [Leadership success is measured by the success of your successor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-munroe/leadership-success-is-measured-by-the-success-of-your-successor/) [Myles Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-munroe/) > [Success is measured by the memories you create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-keller/success-is-measured-by-the-memories-you-create/) [Thomas Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-keller/) > [The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire and how you handle disappointment along the way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yashraj-suman/the-size-of-your-success-is-measured-by-the-strength-of-your-desire/) [Yashraj Suman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yashraj-suman/) > [I'd be lying if I didn't tell you that money was a big factor in signing for Bare Knuckle - we're prize fighters, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/artem-lobov/i-d-be-lying-if-i-didn-t-tell-you-that-money-was-a-big-factor-in/) [Artem Lobov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/artem-lobov/) ## More by Brennan Manning > [Accepting the reality of our sinfulness means accepting our authentic self. Judas could not face his shadow; Peter could. The latter befriended the impostor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/accepting-the-reality-of-our-sinfulness-means-accepting-our-authentic/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [Trust is our gift back to God, and he finds it so enchanting that Jesus died for love of it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/trust-is-our-gift-back-to-god-and-he-finds-it-so-enchanting-that/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [Genuine self-acceptance is not derived from the power of positive thinking, mind games or pop psychology. IT IS AN ACT OF FAITH in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/genuine-self-acceptance-is-not-derived-from-the-power-of-positive/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [That which is denied cannot be healed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/that-which-is-denied-cannot-be-healed/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [“It is not objective proof of God’s existence that we want but the experience of God’s presence. That is the miracle we are really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/it-is-not-objective-proof-of-god-s-existence-that-we-want-but-the/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [“He who is alone with his sins is utterly alone. It may be that Christians, notwithstanding corporate worship, common prayer, and all their fellowship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/he-who-is-alone-with-his-sins-is-utterly-alone-it-may-be-that/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [God not only loves me as I am, but also knows me as I am. Because of this I don't need to apply spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/god-not-only-loves-me-as-i-am-but-also-knows-me-as-i-am-because-of/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [Grace abounds in contemporary movies, books, novels, films and music. If God is not in the whirlwind, He may be in a Woody Allen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/grace-abounds-in-contemporary-movies-books-novels-films-and-music-if/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [My trust in God flows out of the experience of his loving me, day in and day out, whether the day is stormy or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/my-trust-in-god-flows-out-of-the-experience-of-his-loving-me-day-in/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [I you think you've done it, then you're wrong. Because you're not finished until you have achieved everything that you never thought you could.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/i-you-think-you-ve-done-it-then-you-re-wrong-because-you-re-not/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [May all your expectations be frustrated, may all your plans be thwarted, may all your desires be withered into nothingness, that you may experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/may-all-your-expectations-be-frustrated-may-all-your-plans-be/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [Our identity rests in God's relentless tenderness for us revealed in Jesus Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/our-identity-rests-in-god-s-relentless-tenderness-for-us-revealed-in/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [“When I get honest I admit that I am a bundle of paradoxes. I believe and I doubt, I hope and I get discouraged.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/when-i-get-honest-i-admit-that-i-am-a-bundle-of-paradoxes-i-believe/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [“At Sunday worship, as in every dimension of our existence, many of us pretend to believe we are sinners. Consequently, all we can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/at-sunday-worship-as-in-every-dimension-of-our-existence-many-of-us/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [“You tell others about Me - that I am a loving God. Your words are glib. My words are written in the blood of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/you-tell-others-about-me-that-i-am-a-loving-god-your-words-are-glib/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) [Explore all 320 Brennan Manning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) ## More Car quotes > [If you restore a car, and you're making money, then you're doing it wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/if-you-restore-a-car-and-you-re-making-money-then-you-re-doing-it/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [I don't own a yacht or a flashy car. I've always had safe cars because I do so much driving. I don't think I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rippon/i-don-t-own-a-yacht-or-a-flashy-car-i-ve-always-had-safe-cars-because/) [Angela Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rippon/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [I mean, you've kind of got the track down, especially with ovals. The only thing that improves is that when race conditions come, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-patrick/i-mean-you-ve-kind-of-got-the-track-down-especially-with-ovals-the/) [Danica Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-patrick/) > [I was with Dre when he was just selling tapes. He didn't have a car, a license or a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-le/i-was-with-dre-when-he-was-just-selling-tapes-he-didn-t-have-a-car-a/) [Michel'le](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-le/) > ['Melanin Man' was inspired by the words of an Uber driver in L.A. Before I got out of the car he said, 'They're scared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masego/melanin-man-was-inspired-by-the-words-of-an-uber-driver-in-l-a-before/) [Masego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masego/) > [The things that don't happen to us that we'll never know didn't happen to us. The nonstories. The extra minute to find the briefcase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-shreve/the-things-that-don-t-happen-to-us-that-we-ll-never-know-didn-t/) [Anita Shreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-shreve/) > [“I hate the way you talk to me And the way you cut your hair I hate the way you drive my car I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-hate-the-way-you-talk-to-me-and-the-way-you-cut-your-hair-i-hate/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [It is amazing how may drivers, even at the Formula One Level, think that the brakes are for slowing the car down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/it-is-amazing-how-may-drivers-even-at-the-formula-one-level-think/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [I don't have to have the biggest house or the biggest car or the longest mink, but quality of life is really glamorous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-don-t-have-to-have-the-biggest-house-or-the-biggest-car-or-the/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) [Browse all 6,849 Car quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/car/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The conversation of most middle-class Americans, we are told, revolves around consumption: what to buy, what was just bought, where to eat, the price of the neighbor's house, what's on sale this week, our clothes or someone else's, the best car on the market this year, where to spend a vacation. Apparently we can't stop eating, shopping, or consuming. Success is measured not in terms of love, wisdom, and maturity but by the size of one's pile of possessions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brennan Manning" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/the-conversation-of-most-middle-class-americans-we-are-told-revolves/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Car" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/the-conversation-of-most-middle-class-americans-we-are-told-revolves/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/225/brennan-manning-959_car_the-conversation-of-most-middle-class-am_1871809.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/225/brennan-manning-959_car_the-conversation-of-most-middle-class-am_1871809.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/225/brennan-manning-959_car_the-conversation-of-most-middle-class-am_1871809.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The conversation of most middle-class Americans, we are told, revolves around consumption: what to buy, what…” — Brennan Manning", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Brennan Manning", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The conversation of most middle-class Americans,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/the-conversation-of-most-middle-class-americans-we-are-told-revolves/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/the-conversation-of-most-middle-class-americans-we-are-told-revolves/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```