Idolatry Quote by Daniel J. Boorstin
““Although we may suffer from idolatry, we do not, I think, suffer from materialism - from the overvaluing of material objects for their own sake. Of this the world accuses us. Yet our very wealth itself has somehow made us immune to materialism - the characteristic vice of impoverished peoples. Instead, our peculiar idolatry is one with which the world till now has been unfamiliar... To flood the world with images of ourselves. It is to these images and not the material objects that we are devoted. No wonder that the puzzled world finds this unattractive and calls it by the name of its own old-fashioned vices.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Image: A Guide to Pseudo-Events in America, 1961
Society idolizes images over material objects, creating a new form of idolatry that distorts values.
In simple terms: We worship images more than things.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and balance image-driven influences.
Themes
idolatry
materialism
media
culture
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
sociological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- advertising
- social media
- politics
- personal branding
Key Concepts
pseudo‑events
consumerism
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do images shape your values?
- What steps can reduce image‑driven idolatry?
A Different Perspective
Images can obscure deeper truths.
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