---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When people are treated like a product…"
description: "\"“When people are treated like a product, they become obsessed with materialism.”\" — Bryant McGill"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4f/bryant-mcgill-108_essence-of-life_when-people-are-treated-like-a-product-t_1411306.jpg"
---

#  When people are treated like a product, they become…

![“When people are treated like a product, they become obsessed with materialism.” quote by Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4f/bryant-mcgill-108_essence-of-life_when-people-are-treated-like-a-product-t_1411306.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4f/bryant-mcgill-108_essence-of-life_when-people-are-treated-like-a-product-t_1411306.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4f/bryant-mcgill-108_essence-of-life_when-people-are-treated-like-a-product-t_1411306.jpg)

> ““When people are treated like a product, they become obsessed with materialism.””

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

## About This Quote

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

Treating individuals as commodities fuels a focus on possessions over values.

**In simple terms:** Seeing people as products leads to materialism.

Key Takeaway

Value people, not products.

Themes

materialism human dignity consumerism

Mood

critical reflective

Type

observational philosophical

When to use this quote

- marketing
- HR policies
- personal relationships
- public discourse

Key Concepts

objectification psychology social critique

Questions to Reflect On

- How does treating people like products affect their self-worth?
- What alternatives promote intrinsic value?

A Different Perspective

May overlook systemic factors that also drive materialism.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Essence of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence-of-life/) [Materialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materialism/) [Obsessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsessed/) [Obsessed Materialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsessed-materialism-4974567/) [Obssession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obssession-134654/) [People Treated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-treated-755485/) [Product Obsessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/product-obsessed-4974568/) [Treated Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treated-like-295623/)

## Related quotes

> [“What he would have given to be that plaything in her hands...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lance/what-he-would-have-given-to-be-that-plaything-in-her-hands/)

[Amanda Lance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lance/)

> [“Sadness wasn't a disease you could catch, as far as I know, but from what I seen, people treated it like it was.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-bryski/sadness-wasn-t-a-disease-you-could-catch-as-far-as-i-know-but-from/)

[L.M. Bryski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-bryski/)

> [Im done being nice to people when all I do is get treated like shit in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-done-being-nice-to-people-when-all-i-do-is-get-treated-like-shit/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The nicest people always get treated like shit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-nicest-people-always-get-treated-like-shit/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The nicest people always get treated like trash...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-nicest-people-always-get-treated-like-trash/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“In consumer life we become what we consume-disposable junk to be used and thrown away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/in-consumer-life-we-become-what-we-consume-disposable-junk-to-be-used/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [In those days, when you got boxed, that was it. A lot of old people were there because somebody wanted the farm. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/in-those-days-when-you-got-boxed-that-was-it-a-lot-of-old-people-were/)

[Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/)

> [“Sometimes, when people get treated as less than human, the best way to help them feel better is to simply treat them as human.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reynolds/sometimes-when-people-get-treated-as-less-than-human-the-best-way-to/)

[Jason Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reynolds/)

> [I realized I could affect how people treated me by how I acted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gok-wan/i-realized-i-could-affect-how-people-treated-me-by-how-i-acted/)

[Gok Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gok-wan/)

> [“It was weird how life worked. It was sad how people treated one another. It was horrid how people didn’t see the loss of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aparajita-yadav/it-was-weird-how-life-worked-it-was-sad-how-people-treated-one/)

[Aparajita Yadav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aparajita-yadav/)

> [I often felt like I was walking around with this Scarlet Letter stitched to my chest from the way that people treated me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-braxton/i-often-felt-like-i-was-walking-around-with-this-scarlet-letter/)

[Toni Braxton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-braxton/)

> [People who had been treated inhumanly, not given a chance to secure any foot on any ladder - and all the social mores were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/people-who-had-been-treated-inhumanly-not-given-a-chance-to-secure/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [Boys ain't all the same and same goes for girls, we all have our own individual minds, people judge people by how someone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-preston/boys-ain-t-all-the-same-and-same-goes-for-girls-we-all-have-our-own/)

[Christopher Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-preston/)

> [I think a lot of the source of how people are treated depends on the fact if someone recognizes them as a human being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-coogler/i-think-a-lot-of-the-source-of-how-people-are-treated-depends-on-the/)

[Ryan Coogler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-coogler/)

> [Unemployed people should be treated as potential to be realised, not a problem to be solved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lammy/unemployed-people-should-be-treated-as-potential-to-be-realised-not-a/)

[David Lammy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lammy/)

## More by Bryant McGill

> [“Witnessing a selfless act brings tears to remind us how we should be treating others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/witnessing-a-selfless-act-brings-tears-to-remind-us-how-we-should-be/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“The teacher can only provide the lessons, but the student ultimately decides what to learn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-teacher-can-only-provide-the-lessons-but-the-student-ultimately/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“Start the daily practice of joyful living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/start-the-daily-practice-of-joyful-living/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“You have permission to walk away from anything that doesn't feel right. Trust your instincts and listen to your inner-voice — it's trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/you-have-permission-to-walk-away-from-anything-that-doesn-t-feel/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“You cannot change another person's mind or educate them; this they must do themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/you-cannot-change-another-person-s-mind-or-educate-them-this-they/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“The public good must come before private interests.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-public-good-must-come-before-private-interests/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“Countries, states, cities, corporations and laws are all words on paper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/countries-states-cities-corporations-and-laws-are-all-words-on-paper/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“We must remember that nature is the supreme cradle of life, and must be protected and treated with the highest respect and care.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/we-must-remember-that-nature-is-the-supreme-cradle-of-life-and-must/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“The world is not fair, and often fools, cowards, liars and the selfish hide in high places. (p 57)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-world-is-not-fair-and-often-fools-cowards-liars-and-the-selfish/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“Even discomfort or pain delivers awareness of life, and an opportunity for gratitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/even-discomfort-or-pain-delivers-awareness-of-life-and-an-opportunity/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“The secret to unseating great power, is not to move the other direction, but to compete directly against their goals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-secret-to-unseating-great-power-is-not-to-move-the-other/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“In the moments of your deepest need, despair and desperation, what you need more than any other thing, is calm and faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/in-the-moments-of-your-deepest-need-despair-and-desperation-what-you/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“It is essential that you follow your own idea of passion, even if to others it looks like suffering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/it-is-essential-that-you-follow-your-own-idea-of-passion-even-if-to/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“Joy is a practice, not an involuntary state.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/joy-is-a-practice-not-an-involuntary-state/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

[Explore all 1,286 Bryant McGill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

## More Essence of life quotes

> [Spiritually, life is a festival, a celebration. Joy is of the essence of life;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnivesh/spiritually-life-is-a-festival-a-celebration-joy-is-of-the-essence-of/)

[Agnivesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnivesh/)

> [It seems not to have been written. It is the quintessence of life. It is the basic truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooks-atkinson/it-seems-not-to-have-been-written-it-is-the-quintessence-of-life-it/)

[Brooks Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooks-atkinson/)

> [History and Biology, not created the premise that friendships are necessary for a satisfying and healthy life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumar-anupam/history-and-biology-not-created-the-premise-that-friendships-are/)

[Kumar Anupam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumar-anupam/)

> [Timing is the essence of life, and definitely of comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/timing-is-the-essence-of-life-and-definitely-of-comedy/)

[Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/)

> [“The essence of life is that it’s challenging. Sometimes it is sweet, and sometimes it is bitter. Sometimes your body tenses, and sometimes it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-essence-of-life-is-that-it-s-challenging-sometimes-it-is-sweet/)

[Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/)

> [“The essence of life is mastering the art of giving love freely and welcoming it with open arms.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-hultman/the-essence-of-life-is-mastering-the-art-of-giving-love-freely-and/)

[Brandon Hultman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-hultman/)

> [The adventure of life is to learn. The purpose of life is to grow. The nature of life is to change. The challenge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-adventure-of-life-is-to-learn-the-purpose-of-life-is-to-grow-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“True glory and the essence of life lies in the pro-creation and re-actment of heroic meaning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vd/true-glory-and-the-essence-of-life-lies-in-the-pro-creation-and-re/)

[VD](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vd/)

> [Clean water, the essence of life and a birthright for everyone, must become available to all people now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-cousteau/clean-water-the-essence-of-life-and-a-birthright-for-everyone-must/)

[Jean-Michel Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-cousteau/)

> [Goal setting is the essence of life. Tenaciously pursue your goals not for external praise but for inner reward. It makes you a better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/goal-setting-is-the-essence-of-life-tenaciously-pursue-your-goals-not/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [“The essence of life is to appreciate and value all occurrence be it good or bad, it’s a lifetime episodes, the multitude of colors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nisyah/the-essence-of-life-is-to-appreciate-and-value-all-occurrence-be-it/)

[Nisyah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nisyah/)

> [Submission does not mean being weak or passive. It leads to neither fatalism nor capitulation. Just the opposite. True power resides in submission. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-safak/submission-does-not-mean-being-weak-or-passive-it-leads-to-neither/)

[Elif Safak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-safak/)

> [Soon silence will have passed into legend. Man has turned his back on silence. Day after day he invents machines and devices that increase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-arp/soon-silence-will-have-passed-into-legend-man-has-turned-his-back-on/)

[Jean Arp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-arp/)

> [Human nature being what it is, peace must inevitably be a relative condition. The essence of life is struggle and competition, and to that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-perez-de-cuellar/human-nature-being-what-it-is-peace-must-inevitably-be-a-relative/)

[Javier Perez de Cuellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-perez-de-cuellar/)

> [I think there are times when human beings open our psychic field: when they're in love, when they're with another person that they resonate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/i-think-there-are-times-when-human-beings-open-our-psychic-field-when/)

[Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/)

[Browse all 179 Essence of life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence-of-life/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“When people are treated like a product, they become obsessed with materialism.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Bryant McGill"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/when-people-are-treated-like-a-product-they-become-obsessed-with/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Essence of life"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/when-people-are-treated-like-a-product-they-become-obsessed-with/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4f/bryant-mcgill-108_essence-of-life_when-people-are-treated-like-a-product-t_1411306.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4f/bryant-mcgill-108_essence-of-life_when-people-are-treated-like-a-product-t_1411306.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4f/bryant-mcgill-108_essence-of-life_when-people-are-treated-like-a-product-t_1411306.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When people are treated like a product, they become obsessed with materialism.” — Bryant McGill",
                "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": "Bryant McGill",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“When people are treated like a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/when-people-are-treated-like-a-product-they-become-obsessed-with/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/when-people-are-treated-like-a-product-they-become-obsessed-with/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
