--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: fear is the most valuable commodity in…" description: "\"“fear is the most valuable commodity in the universe.” That blew me away. “Turn on the TV,” he’d say. “What are you seeing? People selling their produc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07a/max-brooks-2735_fear_fear-is-the-most-valuable-commodity-in-t_469466.jpg" --- # fear is the most valuable commodity in the universe.” That… ![“fear is the most valuable commodity in the universe.” That blew me away. “Turn on the TV,” he’d say. “What are you seeing? People selling their products? No. People selling the fear of you having to live without their products.” Fuckin’ A, was he right. Fear of aging, fear of loneliness, fear of…” quote by Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07a/max-brooks-2735_fear_fear-is-the-most-valuable-commodity-in-t_469466.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07a/max-brooks-2735_fear_fear-is-the-most-valuable-commodity-in-t_469466.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07a/max-brooks-2735_fear_fear-is-the-most-valuable-commodity-in-t_469466.jpg) > ““fear is the most valuable commodity in the universe.” That blew me away. “Turn on the TV,” he’d say. “What are you seeing? People selling their products? No. People selling the fear of you having to live without their products.” Fuckin’ A, was he right. Fear of aging, fear of loneliness, fear of poverty, fear of failure. Fear is the most basic emotion we have. Fear is primal. Fear sells. That was my mantra. “Fear sells.” When”” [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear is portrayed as a powerful, marketable force that drives consumption and behavior, suggesting that managing fear is essential. **In simple terms:** Fear drives people to buy and act. Key Takeaway Recognize and control fear. Themes consumerism psychology marketing Mood critical analytical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - advertising - political campaigns - personal finance - health decisions Key Concepts behavioral economics emotional manipulation Questions to Reflect On - How can fear be used constructively? - What strategies reduce fear‑based buying? A Different Perspective Fear can also motivate positive change, not just manipulation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear of failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-of-failure/) [Primal fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/primal-fear/) ## Related quotes > [“The only rule that ever made sense to me I learned from a history, not an economics, professor at Wharton. “Fear,” he used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/the-only-rule-that-ever-made-sense-to-me-i-learned-from-a-history-not-2/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [“The only rule that ever made sense to me I learned from a history, not an economics, professor at Wharton. 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No. People selling the fear of you having to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/turn-on-the-tv-he-d-say-what-are-you-seeing-people-selling-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Fear is the most valuable commodity in the universe...Turn on the TV...What are you seeing? People selling their products? No. People selling the fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/fear-is-the-most-valuable-commodity-in-the-universe-turn-on-the-tv/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [“only rule that ever made sense to me I learned from a history, not an economics, professor at Wharton. “Fear,” he used to say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/only-rule-that-ever-made-sense-to-me-i-learned-from-a-history-not-an/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [Fear is the most valuable commodity in the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/fear-is-the-most-valuable-commodity-in-the-universe/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [“what are you seeing? people selling their products? 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