Skip to content

Average person Quote by Bret Easton Ellis

“There's no use in denying it: this has been a bad week. I've started drinking my own urine. I laugh spontaneously at nothing. Sometimes I sleep under my futon. I'm flossing my teeth constantly until my gums are aching and my mouth tastes like blood. Before dinner last night at 1500 with Reed…” quote by Bret Easton Ellis
Download Open image
““There's no use in denying it: this has been a bad week. I've started drinking my own urine. I laugh spontaneously at nothing. Sometimes I sleep under my futon. I'm flossing my teeth constantly until my gums are aching and my mouth tastes like blood. Before dinner last night at 1500 with Reed Goodrich and Jason Rust I was almost caught at a Federal Express in Times Square trying to send the mother of one of the girls I killed last week what might be a dried-up, brown heart. And to Evelyn I successfully Federal Expressed, through the office, a small box of flies along with a note, typed by Jean, saying that I never, ever wanted to see her face again and, though she doesn't really need one, to go on a fucking diet. But there are also things that the average person would think are nice that I've done to celebrate the holiday, items I've bought Jean and had delivered to her apartment this morning: Castellini cotton napkins from Bendel's, a wicker chair from Jenny B. Goode, a taffeta table throw from Barney's, a vintage chain-mail-vent purse and a vintage sterling silver dresser set from Macy's, a white pine whatnot from Conran's, an Edwardian nine-carat-gold "gate" bracelet from Bergdorfs and hundreds upon hundreds of pink and white roses.””

Bret Easton Ellis

About This Quote

Source Novel: American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis, 1991

The narrator juxtaposes grotesque, violent impulses with mundane consumerism, highlighting a fractured psyche that seeks control through material excess and shocking acts.

In simple terms: A disturbed mind mixes cruelty with luxury buying.

Key Takeaway

Recognize when materialism masks deeper turmoil.

Themes

psychology consumerism violence identity alienation

Mood

disturbing dark satirical

Type

literary psychological

When to use this quote

  • holiday stress
  • mental breakdown
  • obsessive gifting
  • crime planning
  • self‑destructive behavior

Key Concepts

nihilism masochism dissociation

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does consumerism serve as a coping mechanism?
  • What does the contrast reveal about societal values?
A Different Perspective

The extreme violence may be exaggerated for narrative shock, not reflecting real psychological patterns.

2.5 out of 5 (3 ratings)

More by Bret Easton Ellis

Explore all 286 Bret Easton Ellis quotes

More Average person quotes

Browse all 443 Average person quotes