--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In these times - where social appearance…" description: "\"In these times - where social appearance is more important than spiritual substance - what has become our longing to change is really the unconscious d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e29/guy-finley-2165_appearance_in-these-times-where-social-appearance-i_1214920.png" --- # In these times - where social appearance is more important… ![“In these times - where social appearance is more important than spiritual substance - what has become our longing to change is really the unconscious desire to control not just the shape of our bodies (according to prevailing values) but to dominate our environment as well, regardless of the cost.” quote by Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e29/guy-finley-2165_appearance_in-these-times-where-social-appearance-i_1214920.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e29/guy-finley-2165_appearance_in-these-times-where-social-appearance-i_1214920.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e29/guy-finley-2165_appearance_in-these-times-where-social-appearance-i_1214920.png) > “In these times - where social appearance is more important than spiritual substance - what has become our longing to change is really the unconscious desire to control not just the shape of our bodies (according to prevailing values) but to dominate our environment as well, regardless of the cost.” [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society pressures us to control bodies and environments, reflecting deeper unconscious desires for dominance that can override spiritual values. **In simple terms:** We seek control over self and world, often unconsciously. Key Takeaway Recognize and balance control with spiritual depth. Themes spirituality culture control identity materialism Mood contemplative critical inquisitive Type philosophical self‑help When to use this quote - mindfulness practice - counseling - community dialogue - media literacy - policy advocacy Key Concepts unconscious desire dominance body image environmental impact Questions to Reflect On - What drives your need for control? - How can you nurture spiritual substance? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on control can cause anxiety and alienation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Longing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longing/) [Our environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-environment/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [“Dependence, sorrow, repentance, a longing to change—these are the gates to God's kingdom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/dependence-sorrow-repentance-a-longing-to-change-these-are-the-gates/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Longing not so much to change things as to overturn them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/longing-not-so-much-to-change-things-as-to-overturn-them/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“...your zeal to face life's rough and tumble, your ardor to accept the responsibilities of adulthood is hardly congruent with the aspirations of most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millard-kaufman/your-zeal-to-face-life-s-rough-and-tumble-your-ardor-to-accept-the/) [Millard Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millard-kaufman/) > [All true artists, bear within themselves a deeply rooted and often unconscious desire for transformation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chekhov/all-true-artists-bear-within-themselves-a-deeply-rooted-and-often/) [Michael Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chekhov/) > [“Language, the unconscious, the parents, the symbolic order: these terms in Lacan are not exactly synonymous, but they are intimately allied. They are sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/language-the-unconscious-the-parents-the-symbolic-order-these-terms/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [“By giving us control, our new technologies tend to enhance existing idols in our lives. Instead of becoming more like Christ through the forming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-challies/by-giving-us-control-our-new-technologies-tend-to-enhance-existing/) [Tim Challies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-challies/) > [Most human beings, though in varying degrees, desire to control, not only their own lives but also the lives of others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/most-human-beings-though-in-varying-degrees-desire-to-control-not/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [It is hard to fight desire; but to control it is the sign of a reasonable man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/it-is-hard-to-fight-desire-but-to-control-it-is-the-sign-of-a/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [“Now is the only time you have. Change is happening. Give up your desire to control the world”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-martin/now-is-the-only-time-you-have-change-is-happening-give-up-your-desire/) [Kelly Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-martin/) > [There is a very Simple Secret to being happy. Just let go of your 'demand' on this moment. Any time you have a demand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/there-is-a-very-simple-secret-to-being-happy-just-let-go-of-your/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [When you relinquish the desire to control your future, you can have more happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/when-you-relinquish-the-desire-to-control-your-future-you-can-have/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [“Desire is naughty and doesn't conform to our ideals, which is why we have such a need of them. Desire mocks all human endeavour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/desire-is-naughty-and-doesn-t-conform-to-our-ideals-which-is-why-we/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [and while faith based on theological reasoning is today universally engaged in a bitter struggle with doubt and resistance from the prevailing brand of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-musil/and-while-faith-based-on-theological-reasoning-is-today-universally/) [Robert Musil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-musil/) > [I disagree with the prevailing point of view of some black leaders that special treatment for blacks is acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/i-disagree-with-the-prevailing-point-of-view-of-some-black-leaders/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) ## More by Guy Finley > [No truly conscious human being sabotages himself - it's impossible, because it's contrary to Nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/no-truly-conscious-human-being-sabotages-himself-it-s-impossible/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [A crisis is a close encounter of the third kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/a-crisis-is-a-close-encounter-of-the-third-kind/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [Knowledge without Spirit is like finding yourself on a cold night with all the wood in the world and no flame to ignite it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/knowledge-without-spirit-is-like-finding-yourself-on-a-cold-night/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [Eventually, we reach the point where we start to realize that we are not going to find peace, contentment, happiness, strength, fearlessness - all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/eventually-we-reach-the-point-where-we-start-to-realize-that-we-are/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [Nothing glows brighter than the heart awakened to the unseen light of love that lives within it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/nothing-glows-brighter-than-the-heart-awakened-to-the-unseen-light-of/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [We are not here on earth to change our destiny, but to fulfill it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/we-are-not-here-on-earth-to-change-our-destiny-but-to-fulfill-it/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [Staying present, living in Presence is the best gift anyone can give to those they love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/staying-present-living-in-presence-is-the-best-gift-anyone-can-give/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [What you don't want to know about yourself wants to be known, which is why it keeps 'showing up' at your door unannounced!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/what-you-don-t-want-to-know-about-yourself-wants-to-be-known-which-is/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [Statistics vary, but in less than seven years there won't be a single cell left in any of our bodies that's the same as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/statistics-vary-but-in-less-than-seven-years-there-won-t-be-a-single/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [Never run from what you don't understand, as it will be waiting for you every time you come to a stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/never-run-from-what-you-don-t-understand-as-it-will-be-waiting-for/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [Ours is the task of discovering that our true nature has nothing to fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/ours-is-the-task-of-discovering-that-our-true-nature-has-nothing-to/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [No one rises above who he or she has been without first having fallen down. The best time - in fact, the only time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/no-one-rises-above-who-he-or-she-has-been-without-first-having-fallen/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [You cannot separate the onset of a disturbing moment in life from the appearance of some simultaneous new possibility to know a deeper and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/you-cannot-separate-the-onset-of-a-disturbing-moment-in-life-from-the/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [What is the nature of that place where our original self is one with its longing to explore its own deepest possibilities, and where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/what-is-the-nature-of-that-place-where-our-original-self-is-one-with/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [All created forms are fractal, as is their purpose, use, and allotted time for existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/all-created-forms-are-fractal-as-is-their-purpose-use-and-allotted/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) [Explore all 176 Guy Finley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) ## More Appearance quotes > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [The essence of worldliness is exclusion of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jacobsen/the-essence-of-worldliness-is-exclusion-of-god/) [Henry Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jacobsen/) > [We must, however, note that what are usually called the high religions made their appearance within about twenty-five hundred years - most of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-scott-latourette/we-must-however-note-that-what-are-usually-called-the-high-religions/) [Kenneth Scott Latourette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-scott-latourette/) > [First impressions are often the truest, as we find (not infrequently) to our cost, when we have been wheedled out of them by plausible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/first-impressions-are-often-the-truest-as-we-find-not-infrequently-to/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [The turning points of lives are not the great moments. The real crises are often concealed in occurrences so trivial in appearance that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-turning-points-of-lives-are-not-the-great-moments-the-real-crises/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [You can have a nice body, dress with the latest fashion. But if you don't have self-confidence sweetheart, forget about looking sexy, you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/you-can-have-a-nice-body-dress-with-the-latest-fashion-but-if-you-don/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [I cannot be convinced that great artists are moralists. Art is first appearances, then meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/i-cannot-be-convinced-that-great-artists-are-moralists-art-is-first/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [So may the outward shows be least themselves; The world is still deceived with ornament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-may-the-outward-shows-be-least-themselves-the-world-is-still/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are one of many appearances of the thing called Life; we are not its perfect image, for it has no perfect image except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/we-are-one-of-many-appearances-of-the-thing-called-life-we-are-not/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) > [I'm OK with my appearance. I have made my peace with it after a long and frankly exhausting battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-perkins/i-m-ok-with-my-appearance-i-have-made-my-peace-with-it-after-a-long/) [Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-perkins/) > [There is no society or conversation to be kept up in the world without good-nature, or something which must bear its appearance and supply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/there-is-no-society-or-conversation-to-be-kept-up-in-the-world/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Appearance records are pretty special. Mine means a lot to me, not only because I love stats, but because it shows that I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james/appearance-records-are-pretty-special-mine-means-a-lot-to-me-not-only/) [David James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james/) > [Every man would fall in love with their voice, their lovely appearance, but no man would ever get past that. 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People believe in appearances, and I don't believe in appearances at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-michals/i-already-know-what-things-look-like-i-don-t-want-description-people/) [Duane Michals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-michals/) Browse all 2,446 Appearance quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In these times - where social appearance is more important than spiritual substance - what has become our longing to change is really the unconscious desire to control not just the shape of our bodies (according to prevailing values) but to dominate our environment as well, regardless of the cost.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Guy Finley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/in-these-times-where-social-appearance-is-more-important-than/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Appearance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/in-these-times-where-social-appearance-is-more-important-than/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e29/guy-finley-2165_appearance_in-these-times-where-social-appearance-i_1214920.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e29/guy-finley-2165_appearance_in-these-times-where-social-appearance-i_1214920.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e29/guy-finley-2165_appearance_in-these-times-where-social-appearance-i_1214920.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In these times - where social appearance is more important than spiritual substance - what has become our…” — Guy Finley", "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": "Guy Finley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In these times - where social...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/in-these-times-where-social-appearance-is-more-important-than/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/in-these-times-where-social-appearance-is-more-important-than/#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 } } ] } ```