--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe that the major operating ethic…" description: "\"I believe that the major operating ethic in American society right now, the most universal want and need is to be on TV. I've been on TV. I could be on..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/hunter-s-thompson-278_american-society_i-believe-that-the-major-operating-ethic_485487.jpg" --- # I believe that the major operating ethic in American… ![“I believe that the major operating ethic in American society right now, the most universal want and need is to be on TV. I've been on TV. I could be on TV all the time if I wanted to. But most people will never get on TV. It has to be a real breakthrough for them. And trouble is, people will do…” quote by Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/hunter-s-thompson-278_american-society_i-believe-that-the-major-operating-ethic_485487.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/hunter-s-thompson-278_american-society_i-believe-that-the-major-operating-ethic_485487.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/hunter-s-thompson-278_american-society_i-believe-that-the-major-operating-ethic_485487.jpg) > “I believe that the major operating ethic in American society right now, the most universal want and need is to be on TV. I've been on TV. I could be on TV all the time if I wanted to. But most people will never get on TV. It has to be a real breakthrough for them. And trouble is, people will do almost anything to get on it. You know, confess to crimes they haven't committed. You don't exist unless you're on TV. Yeah, it's a validation process.” [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-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 writer critiques society’s obsession with television fame, noting extreme lengths people will go for validation. **In simple terms:** TV fame is a powerful but dangerous validation. Key Takeaway Question the pursuit of media validation. Themes media obsession validation celebrity culture Mood cynical reflective Type cultural psychological When to use this quote - career ambitions - social media behavior - public scrutiny Key Concepts psychology of fame social pressure ethical boundaries Questions to Reflect On - Why do people crave public visibility? - What are healthier ways to seek validation? A Different Perspective May overgeneralize TV influence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-society/) [Breakthrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breakthrough/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Validation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/validation/) [Wants and needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wants-and-needs/) ## Related quotes > [Movies are very, very good to me; What do I need TV for?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ben-garant/movies-are-very-very-good-to-me-what-do-i-need-tv-for/) [Robert Ben Garant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ben-garant/) > [The TV licence people just can't believe we don't have a television. I'm a bolshie git. I shout at them things like, 'I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-cope/the-tv-licence-people-just-can-t-believe-we-don-t-have-a-television-i/) [Julian Cope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-cope/) > [All I need is a TV show, that and the radio. Down on my luck again, down on my luck again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genesis/all-i-need-is-a-tv-show-that-and-the-radio-down-on-my-luck-again-down/) [Genesis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genesis/) > [We need to be put on TV. I feel like when it's tape delay or anything like that, that hurts our game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly-korda/we-need-to-be-put-on-tv-i-feel-like-when-it-s-tape-delay-or-anything/) [Nelly Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelly-korda/) > [I think, over the last couple of years, the written word has made a comeback on the Internet. For example, I'm seeing more long-form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-pierce/i-think-over-the-last-couple-of-years-the-written-word-has-made-a/) [Charlie Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-pierce/) > [I really don't have a need to be on TV all that much, to be honest with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wilmore/i-really-don-t-have-a-need-to-be-on-tv-all-that-much-to-be-honest/) [Larry Wilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wilmore/) > [People know the facts of a story just as well as the people on TV do, and they have more platforms to hold the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-geist/people-know-the-facts-of-a-story-just-as-well-as-the-people-on-tv-do/) [Willie Geist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-geist/) > [When you're 1 out of 5 Asian people on TV, all the pressure is on you and you have to represent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-o-yang/when-you-re-1-out-of-5-asian-people-on-tv-all-the-pressure-is-on-you/) [Jimmy O. Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-o-yang/) > [The really important people in TV are not the directors; they're the writers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-harron/the-really-important-people-in-tv-are-not-the-directors-they-re-the/) [Mary Harron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-harron/) > [I get really tired of seeing people on TV going on and on about themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wahl/i-get-really-tired-of-seeing-people-on-tv-going-on-and-on-about/) [Ken Wahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wahl/) > [In a psychiatric hospital, a lot of people believe that people on TV are talking to them directly through the screen. I'm with about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-merton/in-a-psychiatric-hospital-a-lot-of-people-believe-that-people-on-tv/) [Paul Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-merton/) > [People don't like the music that's out now, that's on their radio stations, and they want to hear something different, but they're just the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/people-don-t-like-the-music-that-s-out-now-that-s-on-their-radio/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [I should be a success and I'm not and other people- younger people- are. Younger people than me are on TV and getting their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/i-should-be-a-success-and-i-m-not-and-other-people-younger-people-are/) [Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/) > [CANT WAIT TO SEE THESE PEOPLE ON TV(:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare/cant-wait-to-see-these-people-on-tv/) [CLARE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare/) > [“seen another living soul in years except Mom. When your only human experience in life is through the TV, it warps your sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-crane/seen-another-living-soul-in-years-except-mom-when-your-only-human/) [Robert J. Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-crane/) ## More by Hunter S. Thompson > [“There was also the fact that sending a penniless writer to get $135 worth of beer was — as Khrushchev said of Nixon —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-was-also-the-fact-that-sending-a-penniless-writer-to-get-135/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“Cases of champagne and scotch lay broken in the street, and everyone I saw had a bottle. They were screaming and dancing, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/cases-of-champagne-and-scotch-lay-broken-in-the-street-and-everyone-i/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [No music + Bad TV = Bad mood & no pages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-music-bad-tv-bad-mood-no-pages/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [By disgracing and degrading the presidency of the United States, by fleeing the White House like a diseased cur, Richard Nixon broke the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/by-disgracing-and-degrading-the-presidency-of-the-united-states-by/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [No one holds command over me. No man. No god. No Prince. What is a claim of age for ones who are immortal? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-one-holds-command-over-me-no-man-no-god-no-prince-what-is-a-claim/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“The person who doesn't scatter the morning dew will not comb grey hairs”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/the-person-who-doesn-t-scatter-the-morning-dew-will-not-comb-grey/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Hope rises and dreams flicker and die. Love plans for tomorrow and loneliness thinks of yesterday. Life is beautiful and living is pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/hope-rises-and-dreams-flicker-and-die-love-plans-for-tomorrow-and/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [If we get chased out of Iraq with our tail between our legs, that will be the fifth consecutive Third-world country with no hint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/if-we-get-chased-out-of-iraq-with-our-tail-between-our-legs-that-will/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [At age 22 I set what I insist is an all-time record for distance hitchhiking in Bermuda shorts: 3,700 miles in three weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/at-age-22-i-set-what-i-insist-is-an-all-time-record-for-distance/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Paranoia is just another mask for ignorance. The truth, when you finally chase it down is almost always far worse than your darkest visions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/paranoia-is-just-another-mask-for-ignorance-the-truth-when-you/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“No doubt they all Got What Was Coming To Them. All those pathetically eager acid freaks who thought they could buy Peace and Understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-doubt-they-all-got-what-was-coming-to-them-all-those-pathetically/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“For several months they'd been drifting toward political involvement, but the picture was hazy and one of the most confusing elements was their geographical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/for-several-months-they-d-been-drifting-toward-political-involvement/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [He wandered into the Newsroom and asked for a job the same way he’d walk into a barbershop and ask for a haircut, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/he-wandered-into-the-newsroom-and-asked-for-a-job-the-same-way-he-d/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [There's no point in getting into politics at all unless you plan to lash things around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-s-no-point-in-getting-into-politics-at-all-unless-you-plan-to/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [There’s a lot of things wrong with this country, but one of the few things still right with it is that a man can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-s-a-lot-of-things-wrong-with-this-country-but-one-of-the-few/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) [Explore all 765 Hunter S. Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) ## More American society quotes > [The contempt for law and the contempt for the human consequences of lawbreaking go from the bottom to the top of American society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-contempt-for-law-and-the-contempt-for-the-human-consequences-of/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [American society is now remarkably atomized. Political organizations have collapsed. In fact, it seems like even bowling leagues are collapsing. The left has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/american-society-is-now-remarkably-atomized-political-organizations/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I don't see much future for the Americans ... it's a decayed country. And they have their racial problem, and the problem of social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/i-don-t-see-much-future-for-the-americans-it-s-a-decayed-country-and/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [I have tried to defend what is most precious to our American society, a society that is now at war against the forces of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demian-bichir/i-have-tried-to-defend-what-is-most-precious-to-our-american-society/) [Demian Bichir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demian-bichir/) > [Cumulatively, American society is sliding toward a new form of 'authoritarian democracy'. Elections continue, free speech is generally protected, institutions operate in accordance with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/cumulatively-american-society-is-sliding-toward-a-new-form-of/) [Richard A. Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/) > [“As a culture, we had no heroes. Certainly not any politician--Barack Obama was then the most admired man in America (and likely still is),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-vance/as-a-culture-we-had-no-heroes-certainly-not-any-politician-barack/) [J.D. Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-vance/) > [ “The Sexual plight of these children \[those adolescents experimenting sexually\] is officially not mentioned. The revolutionary attack on hypocrisy by Ibsen, Freud, Ellis, Dreiser,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/the-sexual-plight-of-these-children-those-adolescents-experimenting/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [Hip-hop is contributing to American society's misogyny and racism, hyper-sexuality anti-Black representations. Hip-Hop isn't setting the standard for misogyny. No one reduces the presidency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakari-kitwana/hip-hop-is-contributing-to-american-society-s-misogyny-and-racism/) [Bakari Kitwana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakari-kitwana/) > [I believe it is essential to have English as the official language of our National Government, for the English language is the tie that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-sensenbrenner/i-believe-it-is-essential-to-have-english-as-the-official-language-of/) [Jim Sensenbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-sensenbrenner/) > [Black people cannot and will not become integrated into American society on any terms but those of self-determination and autonomy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerda-lerner/black-people-cannot-and-will-not-become-integrated-into-american/) [Gerda Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerda-lerner/) > [Black people in America have to, for their own protection, develop a defense mechanism, and I just grew terribly tired of it. When you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-robinson/black-people-in-america-have-to-for-their-own-protection-develop-a/) [Randall Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-robinson/) > [Public image is extremely important in American society and I observed personally that the Presidency of John F. Kennedy did much in the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rosovsky/public-image-is-extremely-important-in-american-society-and-i/) [Henry Rosovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rosovsky/) > [Sometimes, you know, the president is a father-like figure in American society, to most Americans, even today, no matter how cynical we've become. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alec-baldwin/sometimes-you-know-the-president-is-a-father-like-figure-in-american/) [Alec Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alec-baldwin/) > [The family has always been the cornerstone of American society. Our families nurture, preserve, and pass on to each succeeding generation the values we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-family-has-always-been-the-cornerstone-of-american-society-our/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [While President Barack Obama has, in one sense, tipped his hand by saying that he wants judges with "empathy" for certain groups, he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/while-president-barack-obama-has-in-one-sense-tipped-his-hand-by/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) [Browse all 315 American society quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-society/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I believe that the major operating ethic in American society right now, the most universal want and need is to be on TV. I've been on TV. I could be on TV all the time if I wanted to. But most people will never get on TV. 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