Garbage Quote by Don DeLillo
![“[We] saw products as garbage even when they sat gleaming on store shelves, yet unbought. We didn't say, What kind of casserole will that make? We said, What kind of garbage will that make?” quote by Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5de/don-delillo-294_garbage_we-saw-products-as-garbage-even-when-the_1768805.jpg)
““[We] saw products as garbage even when they sat gleaming on store shelves, yet unbought. We didn't say, What kind of casserole will that make? We said, What kind of garbage will that make?””
About This Quote
Source Novel: White Noise, 1985
Consumers treat products as waste even when pristine, focusing on disposal rather than creation.
In simple terms: People see goods as trash before they become useful.
Key Takeaway
Shift mindset from waste to potential.
Themes
consumerism
environment
waste
creativity
culture
Mood
critical
reflective
concerned
Type
literary
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- marketing
- product design
- environmental activism
- education
Key Concepts
circular economy
value perception
material culture
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives the perception of products as waste?
- How can design change waste narratives?
A Different Perspective
Changing entrenched consumer habits is difficult.
![“I will be known forever as the Puppy who chased a cutpurse and caught fish garbage instead. My descendants will pretend I'm not in their bloodline. No – no one will want to make descendants with me. [from Beka Cooper's journal of her first day as a new Dog i.e. cop]” quote by Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6d5/tamora-pierce-935_beka-cooper_i-will-be-known-forever-as-the-puppy-who_17776.jpg)
