Business Quote by Gilbert Sorrentino
““There is no sincere stupidity that doesn't create, eventually, its own rationale, conduct, operating procedures, its own critical formulae whereby it may be, in all seriousness, discussed: witness the advertising business. Witness the best-seller list. Areas of idiocy within which various degrees of the spurious are compared.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Literary criticism, 1975, discussing advertising and idiocy
Even absurdity creates its own logic and systems, as seen in advertising and bestseller culture.
In simple terms: Stupidity builds its own rationalizations.
Key Takeaway
Question the logic behind popular trends.
Themes
media criticism
logic
absurdity
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
satirical
When to use this quote
- media analysis
- academic study
- public discourse
Key Concepts
self‑justifying systems
cultural critique
advertising ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- What mechanisms allow absurd ideas to gain credibility?
- How can we discern genuine value from hype?
A Different Perspective
May overgeneralize all media as nonsensical.
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