--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...mass market consumption offers the…" description: "\"“...mass market consumption offers the facade of social equality without forcing society to go through the hard work of redistributing wealth. Low pric..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/223/ellen-ruppel-shell-35531_cheap_mass-market-consumption-offers-the-facad_2323371.jpg" --- # ...mass market consumption offers the facade of social… ![“...mass market consumption offers the facade of social equality without forcing society to go through the hard work of redistributing wealth. Low prices lead consumers to think they can get what they want without necessarily giving them what they want - or need. The ancient Roman phrase for this…” quote by Ellen Ruppel Shell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/223/ellen-ruppel-shell-35531_cheap_mass-market-consumption-offers-the-facad_2323371.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/223/ellen-ruppel-shell-35531_cheap_mass-market-consumption-offers-the-facad_2323371.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/223/ellen-ruppel-shell-35531_cheap_mass-market-consumption-offers-the-facad_2323371.jpg) > ““...mass market consumption offers the facade of social equality without forcing society to go through the hard work of redistributing wealth. Low prices lead consumers to think they can get what they want without necessarily giving them what they want - or need. The ancient Roman phrase for this is panem et circenses, bread and circuses, the art of plying citizens with pleasures to distract them from pain.”” [Ellen Ruppel Shell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ruppel-shell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mass market consumption creates an illusion of equality while avoiding true wealth redistribution, distracting citizens with cheap pleasures. **In simple terms:** Cheap goods mask real inequality and distract from real needs. Key Takeaway Recognize and address structural inequality beyond consumerism. Themes inequality consumerism politics distraction Mood critical reflective Type analytical political When to use this quote - political campaigns - advertising - public policy - education reform - community organizing Key Concepts panem et circenses social control economic disparity Questions to Reflect On - How does consumer culture affect your perception of fairness? - What alternatives can reduce reliance on distraction? A Different Perspective It may underestimate the agency of consumers to demand systemic change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancient Roman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient-roman/) [Consumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumer/) [Consumers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumers/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Mass consumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass-consumption/) [Social equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-equality/) [Value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value/) ## Related quotes > [“when one of Anheuser-Busch’s competitors uses social connection, consumers will think of Budweiser as well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-one-of-anheuser-busch-s-competitors-uses-social-connection/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If we want to move towards a low-polluting, sustainable society, we need to get consumers to think about their purchases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/if-we-want-to-move-towards-a-low-polluting-sustainable-society-we/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Arguably, it might prompt consumers to think about their consumption, with paper straws and reusable grocery bags and shared urban bicycles acting as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lowrey/arguably-it-might-prompt-consumers-to-think-about-their-consumption/) [Annie Lowrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lowrey/) > [Consumers cannot think in abstractions. They cannot envision a new concept. They cannot predict their behavior. They can only compare against their current frame…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-silverstein/consumers-cannot-think-in-abstractions-they-cannot-envision-a-new/) [Michael J. Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-silverstein/) > [As mass production has to be accompanied by mass consumption, mass consumption, in turn, implies a distribution of wealth ... to provide men with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marriner-stoddard-eccles/as-mass-production-has-to-be-accompanied-by-mass-consumption-mass/) Marriner Stoddard Eccles > [I love Japanese design and fabrics. I also love people who make clothes for mass consumption but do it well and cleverly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-love-japanese-design-and-fabrics-i-also-love-people-who-make/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [Today, when death and old age are increasingly concealed behind euphemisms and comforting baby talk, and life is threatened with being smothered in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-esslin/today-when-death-and-old-age-are-increasingly-concealed-behind/) [Martin Esslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-esslin/) > [Mass consumption, advertising, and mass art are a corporate Frankenstein; while they reinforce the system, they also undermine it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-willis/mass-consumption-advertising-and-mass-art-are-a-corporate-2/) [Ellen Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-willis/) > [The model of ownership, in a society organized round mass consumption, is addiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-lasch/the-model-of-ownership-in-a-society-organized-round-mass-consumption/) [Christopher Lasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-lasch/) > [I think that if you, as a comedian, are trying to be in people's face, then you've got to come up with new stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keenen-ivory-wayans/i-think-that-if-you-as-a-comedian-are-trying-to-be-in-people-s-face/) [Keenen Ivory Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keenen-ivory-wayans/) > [The Second Wave Society is industrial and based on mass production, mass distribution, mass consumption, mass education, mass media, mass recreation, mass entertainment, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-toffler/the-second-wave-society-is-industrial-and-based-on-mass-production/) [Alvin Toffler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-toffler/) > [Mass consumption, advertising, and mass art are a corporate Frankenstein; while they reinforce the system, they also undermine it. By continually pushing the message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-willis/mass-consumption-advertising-and-mass-art-are-a-corporate/) [Ellen Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-willis/) > [Art has a smaller audience than, say, movies or other forms of mass consumption. But that doesn't mean the work doesn't have an impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-solondz/art-has-a-smaller-audience-than-say-movies-or-other-forms-of-mass/) [Todd Solondz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-solondz/) > [Even the bands I dig don't have a history of attaining mass consumption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-dando/even-the-bands-i-dig-don-t-have-a-history-of-attaining-mass/) [Evan Dando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-dando/) > [I made songs really for myself - I didn't ever expect to put it out there and make this a record for mass consumption,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-iero/i-made-songs-really-for-myself-i-didn-t-ever-expect-to-put-it-out-2/) [Frank Iero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-iero/) ## More by Ellen Ruppel Shell > [“At a national level, the study found that thanks to Wal-Mart the total earnings of retail workers declined by $4.5 billion, with most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ruppel-shell/at-a-national-level-the-study-found-that-thanks-to-wal-mart-the-total/) [Ellen Ruppel Shell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ruppel-shell/) > [“Andrew Young, a former U.S. Congressman and U.N. ambassador turned Wal-Mart spokesman, seemed to offer an explanation: “Poverty in America,” he said, “is market…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ruppel-shell/andrew-young-a-former-u-s-congressman-and-u-n-ambassador-turned-wal/) [Ellen Ruppel Shell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ruppel-shell/) > [“Cheap objects resist involvement. We tend to invest less in their purchase, care, and maintenance, and that's part of what makes them so attractive.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ruppel-shell/cheap-objects-resist-involvement-we-tend-to-invest-less-in-their/) [Ellen Ruppel Shell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ruppel-shell/) > [“The typical capitalists are lovers of power rather than sensual indulgence, but they have the same tendency to crush and to take tribute that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ruppel-shell/the-typical-capitalists-are-lovers-of-power-rather-than-sensual/) [Ellen Ruppel Shell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ruppel-shell/) > [“If enough dishonest merchants water their milk, more and more customers will forget what normal milk tastes like and buy only the cheaper -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ruppel-shell/if-enough-dishonest-merchants-water-their-milk-more-and-more/) [Ellen Ruppel Shell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ruppel-shell/) > [“Discounters gave the common man and woman the opportunity to eschew the cobbler and the darning needle, to break in a brand-new pair of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ruppel-shell/discounters-gave-the-common-man-and-woman-the-opportunity-to-eschew/) [Ellen Ruppel Shell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ruppel-shell/) > [“since wage and benefit savings are not the main part of the cost advantage for the company it could (conceivably) “continue to pass on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ruppel-shell/since-wage-and-benefit-savings-are-not-the-main-part-of-the-cost/) [Ellen Ruppel Shell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ruppel-shell/) > [“Mexico has lost hundreds of thousands of jobs to China. U.S. Department of Commerce data reveal that from 2002 to 2003 Mexico lost market…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ruppel-shell/mexico-has-lost-hundreds-of-thousands-of-jobs-to-china-u-s-department/) [Ellen Ruppel Shell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ruppel-shell/) > [“Americans pay less for food than do citizens of any other developed nation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ruppel-shell/americans-pay-less-for-food-than-do-citizens-of-any-other-developed/) [Ellen Ruppel Shell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ruppel-shell/) > [“Craftsmanship cements a relationship of trust between buyer and seller, worker and employer, and expects something of both. It is about caring about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ruppel-shell/craftsmanship-cements-a-relationship-of-trust-between-buyer-and/) [Ellen Ruppel Shell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ruppel-shell/) > [“MIT-trained urban development expert Wig Zamore said: “IKEA is the least sustainable retailer on the planet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ruppel-shell/mit-trained-urban-development-expert-wig-zamore-said-ikea-is-the/) [Ellen Ruppel Shell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ruppel-shell/) > [“Compared with the early 1970s, in 2007 we spent 32 percent less on clothes, 18 percent less on food, 52 percent less on appliances,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ruppel-shell/compared-with-the-early-1970s-in-2007-we-spent-32-percent-less-on/) [Ellen Ruppel Shell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ruppel-shell/) [Explore all 13 Ellen Ruppel Shell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ruppel-shell/) ## More Cheap quotes > [Just because the Americans are so good at rattling out accessible and cheap junk food, nobody looks twice when it comes to their food.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-oliver/just-because-the-americans-are-so-good-at-rattling-out-accessible-and/) [Jamie Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-oliver/) > [In cloths cheap handsomeness, doth bear the bell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/in-cloths-cheap-handsomeness-doth-bear-the-bell/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [The only way to learn on a zero dollar budget is to talk to people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-houston/the-only-way-to-learn-on-a-zero-dollar-budget-is-to-talk-to-people/) [Drew Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-houston/) > [There's a whole generation of women who never really heard the word investment before, when it came to fashion. They've been buying things because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kors/there-s-a-whole-generation-of-women-who-never-really-heard-the-word/) [Michael Kors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kors/) > [If cheap immigrant labor is made unavailable, employers can hire Americans at a higher wage, or replace low-wage immigrant workers with technology and automation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-c-ting/if-cheap-immigrant-labor-is-made-unavailable-employers-can-hire/) [Jan C. Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/) > [“Many great opportunities are not cheap; but some cheap opportunities are so great.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iveta-cherneva/many-great-opportunities-are-not-cheap-but-some-cheap-opportunities/) [Iveta Cherneva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iveta-cherneva/) > [“Sorry is so cheap.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/sorry-is-so-cheap/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [There would be weeks when I'd just go to Paris on a cheap ticket, sleep on my friend's floor, and just do a show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skepta/there-would-be-weeks-when-i-d-just-go-to-paris-on-a-cheap-ticket/) [Skepta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skepta/) > [Never buy what you do not want, because it is cheap; it will be dear to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/never-buy-what-you-do-not-want-because-it-is-cheap-it-will-be-dear-to/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The United States has the best, deepest, widest, and most transparent capital markets in the world which give you, the investor, the ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dimon/the-united-states-has-the-best-deepest-widest-and-most-transparent/) [Jamie Dimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dimon/) > [Justice is not cheap. Justice is not quick. It is not ever finally achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/justice-is-not-cheap-justice-is-not-quick-it-is-not-ever-finally/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [This MeToo is bothering me much, making me shun TV and newspapers. They are making such wild charges for cheap publicity, claiming something happened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sowcar-janaki/this-metoo-is-bothering-me-much-making-me-shun-tv-and-newspapers-they/) [Sowcar Janaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sowcar-janaki/) > [I'm sad that my childhood came just slightly before the lithium-ion-battery boom, because I would've killed for the cheap radio-controlled helicopters they have now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-munroe/i-m-sad-that-my-childhood-came-just-slightly-before-the-lithium-ion/) [Randall Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-munroe/) > [Grace is free, but it's not cheap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/grace-is-free-but-it-s-not-cheap/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [I was a cheap criminal; I did many, many wrongs. I admit that. Of course, if I could tell each person I'm sorry, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hunt/i-was-a-cheap-criminal-i-did-many-many-wrongs-i-admit-that-of-course/) [Mark Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hunt/) Browse all 618 Cheap quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“...mass market consumption offers the facade of social equality without forcing society to go through the hard work of redistributing wealth. Low prices lead consumers to think they can get what they want without necessarily giving them what they want - or need. The ancient Roman phrase for this is panem et circenses, bread and circuses, the art of plying citizens with pleasures to distract them from pain.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ellen Ruppel Shell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ruppel-shell/mass-market-consumption-offers-the-facade-of-social-equality-without/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cheap" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ruppel-shell/mass-market-consumption-offers-the-facade-of-social-equality-without/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/223/ellen-ruppel-shell-35531_cheap_mass-market-consumption-offers-the-facad_2323371.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/223/ellen-ruppel-shell-35531_cheap_mass-market-consumption-offers-the-facad_2323371.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/223/ellen-ruppel-shell-35531_cheap_mass-market-consumption-offers-the-facad_2323371.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“...mass market consumption offers the facade of social equality without forcing society to go through the…” — Ellen Ruppel Shell", "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": "Ellen Ruppel Shell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ruppel-shell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“...mass market consumption offers the facade...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ruppel-shell/mass-market-consumption-offers-the-facade-of-social-equality-without/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ruppel-shell/mass-market-consumption-offers-the-facade-of-social-equality-without/#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 } } ] } ```