--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are shallow because we have become…" description: "\"We are shallow because we have become enslaved by gross materialism, the glitter of gold and its equivalents, for which reason we think that only the m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/f-sionil-jos-2399_able_we-are-shallow-because-we-have-become-en_2475016.jpg" --- # We are shallow because we have become enslaved by gross… ![“We are shallow because we have become enslaved by gross materialism, the glitter of gold and its equivalents, for which reason we think that only the material goods of this earth can satisfy us and we must therefore grab as much as can while we are able.” quote by F. Sionil Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/f-sionil-jos-2399_able_we-are-shallow-because-we-have-become-en_2475016.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/f-sionil-jos-2399_able_we-are-shallow-because-we-have-become-en_2475016.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/f-sionil-jos-2399_able_we-are-shallow-because-we-have-become-en_2475016.jpg) > “We are shallow because we have become enslaved by gross materialism, the glitter of gold and its equivalents, for which reason we think that only the material goods of this earth can satisfy us and we must therefore grab as much as can while we are able.” [F. Sionil Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Materialism distracts us from deeper fulfillment, causing a slave-like chase after wealth. **In simple terms:** We chase wealth, losing deeper meaning. Key Takeaway Seek purpose beyond material gain. Themes materialism spirituality contentment Mood reflective critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal finance - career choices - relationship priorities - community service Key Concepts consumer culture existential emptiness Questions to Reflect On - What truly satisfies you beyond possessions? - How can you balance needs and desires? A Different Perspective Material wealth can provide security, which may be necessary for survival. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Become](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/become/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Enslaved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enslaved/) [Equivalents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equivalents-56773/) [Glitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glitter/) [Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold/) [Goods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goods/) [Grab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grab/) [Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gross/) [Gross Materialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gross-materialism-802325/) [Material](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/material/) [Materialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materialism/) [Materialism Glitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materialism-glitter-802326/) [Much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/much/) [Must](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/must/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Satisfy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfy/) [Shallow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shallow/) [Shallow Enslaved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shallow-enslaved-802327/) [Therefore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/therefore/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) [Which](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/which/) [While](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/while/) ## Related quotes > [I have a vision of life, and I try to find equivalents for it in the form of photographs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-stieglitz/i-have-a-vision-of-life-and-i-try-to-find-equivalents-for-it-in-the/) [Alfred Stieglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-stieglitz/) > [Trying to find equivalents for things in words helps me find equivalents in painting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-carr/trying-to-find-equivalents-for-things-in-words-helps-me-find/) [Emily Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-carr/) > [To realise belatedly that there are Swahili epic poems which rival their European equivalents for sweep and power has been exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-foden/to-realise-belatedly-that-there-are-swahili-epic-poems-which-rival/) [Giles Foden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-foden/) > [To be enslaved to oneself is the heaviest of all servitudes.-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/to-be-enslaved-to-oneself-is-the-heaviest-of-all-servitudes/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [How many demons and people are enslaved here? (Jericho) Define slavery. (Asmodeus) Kept against their will. (Jericho) Good definition. Counting me? (Asmodeus) Why not?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/how-many-demons-and-people-are-enslaved-here-jericho-define-slavery/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [None are so hopelessly enslaved, as those who falsely believe they are free. The truth has been kept from the depth of their minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/none-are-so-hopelessly-enslaved-as-those-who-falsely-believe-they-are/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“It is not for you to say - you Englishmen, who have conquered your freedom so long ago, that you have conveniently forgotten what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/it-is-not-for-you-to-say-you-englishmen-who-have-conquered-your/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [We would rather see London laid in ruins and ashes than that it should be tamely and abjectly enslaved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/we-would-rather-see-london-laid-in-ruins-and-ashes-than-that-it/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [All spirits are enslaved which serve things evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/all-spirits-are-enslaved-which-serve-things-evil/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [“You hide it well, but I can see it, Lord Verniers. 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Sionil Jose > [“There is nothing like the land you belong to claiming you back. But everywhere the earth is the same. -Old David”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/there-is-nothing-like-the-land-you-belong-to-claiming-you-back-but/) [F. Sionil José](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) > [“Indeed time has that ultimate capacity to render the passions of the past when recalled in the present as no more than grandiloquent gestures.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/indeed-time-has-that-ultimate-capacity-to-render-the-passions-of-the/) [F. Sionil José](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) > [Class - or the economic status of individuals - is evident in all societies, some very well stratified by a rigid caste system determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/class-or-the-economic-status-of-individuals-is-evident-in-all/) [F. Sionil Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) > [We write from life and call it literature, and literature lives because we are in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/we-write-from-life-and-call-it-literature-and-literature-lives/) [F. Sionil José](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) > [I can imagine the writers of China, England and France, crippled and unsure of themselves when they feel that the ghosts of Confucius, Mencius,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/i-can-imagine-the-writers-of-china-england-and-france-crippled-and/) [F. Sionil Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) > [Always remember: the alleviation of poverty is never a political or economic issue - it is moral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/always-remember-the-alleviation-of-poverty-is-never-a-political-or/) [F. Sionil Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) > [In the end, religion teaches us to value truth, justice and freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/in-the-end-religion-teaches-us-to-value-truth-justice-and-freedom/) [F. Sionil Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) > [My reading of philosophy and history is desultory; I know so much and yet so little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/my-reading-of-philosophy-and-history-is-desultory-i-know-so-much-and/) [F. Sionil Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) > [Life is always sad. That's what makes suicide so tempting because life is all that we really have and haven't. Death makes us equals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/life-is-always-sad-that-s-what-makes-suicide-so-tempting-because-life/) [F. Sionil José](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) > [We recognize the distinctness of Asian art when we turn to its traditional forms, recognize it as Japanese, Chinese and Indian, even Balinese or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/we-recognize-the-distinctness-of-asian-art-when-we-turn-to-its/) [F. Sionil Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) > [“There is nothing in the world which an artist cannot recreate into something poetic, ennobling. And why do we read these things? They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/there-is-nothing-in-the-world-which-an-artist-cannot-recreate-into/) [F. Sionil José](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) > [All through history, a nation or a civilization's enduring glory is articulated by its mega constructions - the pyramids, the lofty cathedrals of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/all-through-history-a-nation-or-a-civilization-s-enduring-glory-is/) [F. Sionil Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) > [Colonialism subdues in many dulcet guises. It conquered under the pretext of spreading Christianity, civilization, law and order, to make the world safe for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/colonialism-subdues-in-many-dulcet-guises-it-conquered-under-the/) [F. Sionil Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) > [November is auspicious in so many parts of the country: the rice harvest is already in, the weather starts to cool, and the festive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/november-is-auspicious-in-so-many-parts-of-the-country-the-rice/) [F. Sionil José](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) > [“No stranger can come battering down my door and say he brings me light. This I have within me. -Istak”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/no-stranger-can-come-battering-down-my-door-and-say-he-brings-me/) [F. Sionil José](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) [Explore all 168 F. Sionil Jose quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. 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