Greed Quote by Italo Calvino
““The splendor of the salmon canapés radiant with mayonnaise disappears, swallowed by the dark shopping bags of the customers. Certainly every one of these men and women knows exactly what he wants, heads straight for his objective with a decisiveness admitting no hesitancy; and rapidly he dismantles mountains of vol-au-vents, white puddings, cervelats. Mr. Palomar would like to catch in their eyes some reflection of those treasures' spell, but the faces and actions are only impatient and hasty, of people concentrated on themselves, nerves taut, each concerned with what he has and what he does not have. Nobody seems to him worthy of the Pantagruelic glory that unfolds in those cases, on the counters. A greed without joy or youth drives them; and yet a deep, atavistic bond exists between them and those foods, their consubstance, flesh of their flesh.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Cosmicomics by Italo Calvino, 1965
The passage critiques consumer greed and self‑absorption, noting how people rush for material desires, ignoring deeper joy or community.
In simple terms: People chase material wants selfishly, missing true happiness.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and value generosity over selfish consumption.
Themes
consumerism
selfishness
materialism
community
joy
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
observational
social critique
When to use this quote
- shopping
- food purchase
- daily life
- observational writing
Key Concepts
existential critique
social commentary
Questions to Reflect On
- How does material pursuit affect personal fulfillment?
- What can foster community over selfish desire?
A Different Perspective
The vivid description may romanticize consumption, overlooking systemic issues.
![“Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari [living a worldly life] regardless of whether one is an ascetic or a family man. And where anger-pride-deceit-greed are absent, one is regarded as being asansaari…” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7ec/dada-bhagwan-31_anger_where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-dece_5756.jpg)
