--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What do you hope to acquire when you bid…" description: "\"“What do you hope to acquire when you bid at a prestigious evening auction at Sotheby’s? A bundle of things: a painting of course, but hopefully also a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/don-thompson-79421_books_what-do-you-hope-to-acquire-when-you-bid_1334881.jpg" --- # What do you hope to acquire when you bid at a prestigious… ![“What do you hope to acquire when you bid at a prestigious evening auction at Sotheby’s? A bundle of things: a painting of course, but hopefully also a new dimension to how people see you. As Robert Lacey described it in his book about Sotheby’s, you are bidding for class, for a validation of your…” quote by Don Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/don-thompson-79421_books_what-do-you-hope-to-acquire-when-you-bid_1334881.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/don-thompson-79421_books_what-do-you-hope-to-acquire-when-you-bid_1334881.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/don-thompson-79421_books_what-do-you-hope-to-acquire-when-you-bid_1334881.jpg) > ““What do you hope to acquire when you bid at a prestigious evening auction at Sotheby’s? A bundle of things: a painting of course, but hopefully also a new dimension to how people see you. As Robert Lacey described it in his book about Sotheby’s, you are bidding for class, for a validation of your taste.”” [Don Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-thompson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker suggests that buying art at elite auctions serves both as a status symbol and a way to reshape personal identity through perceived taste. **In simple terms:** Buying art boosts status and reshapes identity. Key Takeaway Buy art to signal taste. Themes status identity art market social perception self‑presentation Mood ambitious analytical critical Type sociological motivational When to use this quote - high‑end auction events - personal branding - social networking - collecting - gallery openings Key Concepts cultural capital consumer behavior psychology of taste Questions to Reflect On - What does owning art say about you? - Can status be achieved without purchase? A Different Perspective Focus on material acquisition may overlook intrinsic artistic value. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Auction Sotheby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auction-sotheby-4491456/) [Book Sotheby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-sotheby-4491455/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Evening Auction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evening-auction-4491457/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Sotheby Bidding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sotheby-bidding-4491454/) [Sotheby Bundle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sotheby-bundle-4491453/) ## Related quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [I saw Frank Frazetta's art, and it seared on my memory. I love his paintings. They're so amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-momoa/i-saw-frank-frazetta-s-art-and-it-seared-on-my-memory-i-love-his/) [Jason Momoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-momoa/) > [Worship isn't destructive, Martin. I know that. I don't. I only know it's the core of his life. What else has he got? He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/worship-isn-t-destructive-martin-i-know-that-i-don-t-i-only-know-it-s/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) > [There's nothing more special than intellect and labour that makes painting work. There's no magic there; it's information, and it's work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-james-marshall/there-s-nothing-more-special-than-intellect-and-labour-that-makes/) [Kerry James Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-james-marshall/) > [“Your soul is your paintbrush, your world is your canvass, your life is your masterpiece.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/your-soul-is-your-paintbrush-your-world-is-your-canvass-your-life-is/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [I love painting. I love writing. I love creating and being around people who are creating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lycett/i-love-painting-i-love-writing-i-love-creating-and-being-around/) [Joe Lycett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lycett/) > [“He unfixes the metal notch and slips his hand around the body of the bird. Feels its heat, its small heart beating. 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"Then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/love-them-all-said-renoir-that-is-the-secret-young-man-love-them-all/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [I think I'm a guy who can get into the paint, make plays and obviously distribute and make plays for other guys, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-huerter/i-think-i-m-a-guy-who-can-get-into-the-paint-make-plays-and-obviously/) [Kevin Huerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-huerter/) > [I had an idea for a technologically advanced luxury watch. I got involved in digital art and neon painting and put on shows of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-moroder/i-had-an-idea-for-a-technologically-advanced-luxury-watch-i-got/) [Giorgio Moroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-moroder/) > [The bigger the canvas, the better I do. I'm not so good at understated, kitchen-sink kinds of parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/the-bigger-the-canvas-the-better-i-do-i-m-not-so-good-at-understated/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [A home is not a museum. It doesn't have to be furnished with Picasso paintings, or Sheraton suites, or Oriental rugs, or Chinese pottery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-cain/a-home-is-not-a-museum-it-doesn-t-have-to-be-furnished-with-picasso/) [James M. Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-cain/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I was too tired to think. I merely felt the town as a unique unreality. What was it? I knew -- the moon's picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-too-tired-to-think-i-merely-felt-the-town-as-a-unique-unreality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Don Thompson > [Burgers and fries are an American staple. On the same token, my kids eat vegetables, and they always have eaten vegetables. They didn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-thompson/burgers-and-fries-are-an-american-staple-on-the-same-token-my-kids/) [Don Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-thompson/) > [If my kids want to have fries, you know what, I'm gonna let my kids have fries. If they are active and if they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-thompson/if-my-kids-want-to-have-fries-you-know-what-i-m-gonna-let-my-kids/) [Don Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-thompson/) [Explore all 3 Don Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-thompson/) ## More Artist quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. 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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/) [Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What do you hope to acquire when you bid at a prestigious evening auction at Sotheby’s? A bundle of things: a painting of course, but hopefully also a new dimension to how people see you. 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