--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We cannot consume our way into personal…" description: "\"We cannot consume our way into personal growth. Yet, millions of us have bought into this cynical concept of faux identity.\" — Jane Velez-Mitchell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/jane-velez-mitchell-7722_bought_we-cannot-consume-our-way-into-personal_1033448.jpg" --- # We cannot consume our way into personal growth. Yet… ![“We cannot consume our way into personal growth. Yet, millions of us have bought into this cynical concept of faux identity.” quote by Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/jane-velez-mitchell-7722_bought_we-cannot-consume-our-way-into-personal_1033448.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/jane-velez-mitchell-7722_bought_we-cannot-consume-our-way-into-personal_1033448.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/jane-velez-mitchell-7722_bought_we-cannot-consume-our-way-into-personal_1033448.jpg) > “We cannot consume our way into personal growth. Yet, millions of us have bought into this cynical concept of faux identity.” [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Consumerism cannot replace personal growth; fake identities hinder authenticity. **In simple terms:** Buying stuff won’t make you grow personally. Key Takeaway Focus on authentic self-development. Themes consumerism growth identity authenticity Mood critical thoughtful Type observational inspirational When to use this quote - marketing - social media - personal development Key Concepts sociology psychology self-help Questions to Reflect On - How does consumer culture affect self-perception? - What authentic growth steps can you take? A Different Perspective Changing habits is difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cynical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynical/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Personal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal/) [Personal growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-growth/) ## Related quotes > [I am what I want. What I seek to consume, possess, and achieve is a mirror that reflects my lusts and cravings, values and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/i-am-what-i-want-what-i-seek-to-consume-possess-and-achieve-is-a/) [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) > [Family issues and a failing career would be enough to consume most young actresses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/family-issues-and-a-failing-career-would-be-enough-to-consume-most/) [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) > [The media tries to destroy Republicans who make little faux pas and they start telling everybody how dumb and stupid or uncaring they are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-media-tries-to-destroy-republicans-who-make-little-faux-pas-and/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Fashion faux pas should be celebrated. I enjoy them because it means we're not all clones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-evangelista/fashion-faux-pas-should-be-celebrated-i-enjoy-them-because-it-means/) [Linda Evangelista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-evangelista/) > [Anything that's really grounded in humanity and is real, but just happens to be faux pas, or just really shouldn't be funny, I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rockmond-dunbar/anything-that-s-really-grounded-in-humanity-and-is-real-but-just/) [Rockmond Dunbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rockmond-dunbar/) > [There's something within contemporary culture which is far more faux masculine than it was when men were really men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gordon-green/there-s-something-within-contemporary-culture-which-is-far-more-faux/) [David Gordon Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gordon-green/) > [I'd love to say fashion faux pas differ from country to country, but they don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinny-woodall/i-d-love-to-say-fashion-faux-pas-differ-from-country-to-country-but/) [Trinny Woodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinny-woodall/) > [I love rhinestones, faux jewelry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriana-trigiani/i-love-rhinestones-faux-jewelry/) [Adriana Trigiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriana-trigiani/) > [Goering was known to wear togas, fur coats and faux-medieval hunting outfits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-overy/goering-was-known-to-wear-togas-fur-coats-and-faux-medieval-hunting/) [Richard Overy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-overy/) > [I like big escapist films. It's odd because the type of comedian I am and the things I do when I'm writing and directing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-like-big-escapist-films-it-s-odd-because-the-type-of-comedian-i-am/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [to a Southerner it is faux pas, not sins, that matter in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/to-a-southerner-it-is-faux-pas-not-sins-that-matter-in-this-world/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [The secular humanist, although he would never dream of committing the social faux pas of calling a black man a negro, feels perfectly free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-schaeffer/the-secular-humanist-although-he-would-never-dream-of-committing-the/) [Frank Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-schaeffer/) > [Today's mom watches her every child-rearing step lest she commit some egregious and apocalyptic parenting faux pas that will certainly doom her child to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rosemond/today-s-mom-watches-her-every-child-rearing-step-lest-she-commit-some/) [John Rosemond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rosemond/) > [The biggest journalistic game-changer of our time has been the rise of social media and the overgrowth of faux news sources - league- and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lipsyte/the-biggest-journalistic-game-changer-of-our-time-has-been-the-rise/) [Robert Lipsyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lipsyte/) > [Obama's folksy come-on is as bad as Madonna's faux British - and both are in need of fresh inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/obama-s-folksy-come-on-is-as-bad-as-madonna-s-faux-british-and-both/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) ## More by Jane Velez-Mitchell > [There's no better feeling in the world than knowing that my show played a role in stopping animal abuse or alleviating animal suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/there-s-no-better-feeling-in-the-world-than-knowing-that-my-show/) [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) > [We have got to stop being a society that turns our heads and looks the other way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/we-have-got-to-stop-being-a-society-that-turns-our-heads-and-looks/) [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) > [I am what I want. What I seek to consume, possess, and achieve is a mirror that reflects my lusts and cravings, values and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/i-am-what-i-want-what-i-seek-to-consume-possess-and-achieve-is-a/) [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) > [I love working with PETA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/i-love-working-with-peta/) [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) > [How is justice served if the victim and the accused are working together to make it all go away? Somebody please explain that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/how-is-justice-served-if-the-victim-and-the-accused-are-working/) [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) > [What's it like to figure out you're gay and then begin the process of coming out? Well, for most of my life, I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/what-s-it-like-to-figure-out-you-re-gay-and-then-begin-the-process-of/) [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) > [Unfortunately, addicts don't respond to reason or rationality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/unfortunately-addicts-don-t-respond-to-reason-or-rationality/) [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) > [When you're in the closet, you feel like the sky will fall down if anyone finds out. A lot of the fear is self-generated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/when-you-re-in-the-closet-you-feel-like-the-sky-will-fall-down-if/) [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) > [Nature did not put whales on this earth to splash kids while stuck in a pen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/nature-did-not-put-whales-on-this-earth-to-splash-kids-while-stuck-in/) [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) > [Now, Spitzer was an anti-crime crusader cracking down on prostitution and Wall Street corruption. So some people were looking to take him down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/now-spitzer-was-an-anti-crime-crusader-cracking-down-on-prostitution/) [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) > [Obesity affects every aspect of a people's lives, from health to relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/obesity-affects-every-aspect-of-a-people-s-lives-from-health-to/) [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) > [The killer whale Tilikum has helped SeaWorld sell millions of dollars worth of tickets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/the-killer-whale-tilikum-has-helped-seaworld-sell-millions-of-dollars/) [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) > [I dream of a post-racial society that is not categorized by the color of their skin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/i-dream-of-a-post-racial-society-that-is-not-categorized-by-the-color/) [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) > [What does homophobia look like when it's stripped bare of fancy costumes like family values and tradition? It looks like that group of strange,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/what-does-homophobia-look-like-when-it-s-stripped-bare-of-fancy/) [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) > [If you know something is morally reprehensible, then it is your moral obligation to stop it as soon as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/if-you-know-something-is-morally-reprehensible-then-it-is-your-moral/) [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) [Explore all 88 Jane Velez-Mitchell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) ## More Bought quotes > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [One of the Internet's highest-profile companies, Priceline once dreamed of transforming the way consumer goods are bought and sold by offering customers the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-berenson/one-of-the-internet-s-highest-profile-companies-priceline-once/) [Alex Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-berenson/) > [Companies are bought for their revenue, customer base, technology, or people. A few great companies offer all of these, but any valuable business offers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-heffernan/companies-are-bought-for-their-revenue-customer-base-technology-or/) [Margaret Heffernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-heffernan/) > [I've never bought this idea of taking a therapeutic distance. If I see a student or house staff cry, I take great faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/i-ve-never-bought-this-idea-of-taking-a-therapeutic-distance-if-i-see/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) > [“For the best is only bought at the cost of great pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/for-the-best-is-only-bought-at-the-cost-of-great-pain/) [Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) > [Well, executive producer can mean anything in the world of Hollywood, sadly. It can be a bought title in many instances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-stanton/well-executive-producer-can-mean-anything-in-the-world-of-hollywood/) [Andrew Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-stanton/) > [As far as vintage Champagne goes, I loved 1990; it's a great, great vintage. I bought a lot of 1990 Blanc de Blancs Champagne…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-parker-jr/as-far-as-vintage-champagne-goes-i-loved-1990-it-s-a-great-great/) [Robert M. Parker, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-parker-jr/) > [I bought cars for all six of my children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-edochie/i-bought-cars-for-all-six-of-my-children/) Pete Edochie > [I can't be bought. I don't need to be bought. I'm not a careerist. I don't need to have a career in politics. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/i-can-t-be-bought-i-don-t-need-to-be-bought-i-m-not-a-careerist-i-don/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) > [I bought tiny infant onesies while still in college and compiled a killer toy collection throughout my 20s and 30s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-swisher/i-bought-tiny-infant-onesies-while-still-in-college-and-compiled-a/) [Kara Swisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-swisher/) > [But the manager's bought wisely - the players who've come in have taken us on to a different level and the players who won…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-sheringham/but-the-manager-s-bought-wisely-the-players-who-ve-come-in-have-taken/) [Teddy Sheringham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-sheringham/) > [Large fish such as tuna are shown already cut into fillets and bought by the block. Fillets should be almost transparent. Avoid tuna that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nobu-matsuhisa/large-fish-such-as-tuna-are-shown-already-cut-into-fillets-and-bought/) [Nobu Matsuhisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nobu-matsuhisa/) > [I started collecting couture when I was about 10 or 11 years old, and the very first piece I bought was a Balenciaga suit from 1962.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamish-bowles/i-started-collecting-couture-when-i-was-about-10-or-11-years-old-and/) [Hamish Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamish-bowles/) > [Nothing costs so much as what is bought by prayers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/nothing-costs-so-much-as-what-is-bought-by-prayers/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [I have a few pieces that I got for my birthdays or that I bought for myself: I acquire things that speak to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dasha-zhukova/i-have-a-few-pieces-that-i-got-for-my-birthdays-or-that-i-bought-for/) [Dasha Zhukova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dasha-zhukova/) Browse all 549 Bought quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We cannot consume our way into personal growth. Yet, millions of us have bought into this cynical concept of faux identity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jane Velez-Mitchell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/we-cannot-consume-our-way-into-personal-growth-yet-millions-of-us/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bought" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/we-cannot-consume-our-way-into-personal-growth-yet-millions-of-us/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/jane-velez-mitchell-7722_bought_we-cannot-consume-our-way-into-personal_1033448.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/jane-velez-mitchell-7722_bought_we-cannot-consume-our-way-into-personal_1033448.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/jane-velez-mitchell-7722_bought_we-cannot-consume-our-way-into-personal_1033448.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We cannot consume our way into personal growth. Yet, millions of us have bought into this cynical concept of…” — Jane Velez-Mitchell", "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": "Jane Velez-Mitchell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We cannot consume our way into...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/we-cannot-consume-our-way-into-personal-growth-yet-millions-of-us/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/we-cannot-consume-our-way-into-personal-growth-yet-millions-of-us/#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 } } ] } ```