Car salesman Quote by Mark Leyner
““Why would we not only believe, but become eternally beholden to some unctuous car salesman who claims to be putting the lives of his own children at risk by throwing in floor mats and a bug deflector? (I know why I would--because I'm so emotionally gullible, so desperate for tiny kindnesses in my misery.)””
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Car Salesman Parable", 2008
We cling to false promises and emotional comfort, even when absurd.
In simple terms: People seek comfort in irrational beliefs.
Key Takeaway
Question the motives behind comforting narratives.
Themes
irrationality
comfort
trust
media literacy
Mood
skeptical
humorous
Type
satirical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- advertising
- political rhetoric
- personal relationships
- self‑deception
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
emotional need
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we accept comforting lies?
- What evidence challenges these beliefs?
A Different Perspective
Blind trust can lead to harmful decisions.
![“The only trouble was, I wasn't with a group of my peers. Who are my peers? [...] And there I was with a dismal coven of repentant soaks -- a car salesman who had fallen from the creed of the Kiwanis, an Jewish woman whose family misunderstood her attempts to put them straight on everything, a…” quote by Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/06b/robertson-davies-834_car-salesman_the-only-trouble-was-i-wasn-t-with-a-gro_645686.jpg)
