--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: the pyramids were built for pharaohs on…" description: "\"the pyramids were built for pharaohs on the happy theory that they could take their stuff with them. Versailles was built for kings on the theory that ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/856/molly-ivins-1296_able_the-pyramids-were-built-for-pharaohs-on_124591.png" --- # the pyramids were built for pharaohs on the happy theory… ![“the pyramids were built for pharaohs on the happy theory that they could take their stuff with them. Versailles was built for kings on the theory that they should live surrounded by the finest stuff. The Mall of America is built on the premise that we should all be able to afford this stuff. It…” quote by Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/856/molly-ivins-1296_able_the-pyramids-were-built-for-pharaohs-on_124591.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/856/molly-ivins-1296_able_the-pyramids-were-built-for-pharaohs-on_124591.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/856/molly-ivins-1296_able_the-pyramids-were-built-for-pharaohs-on_124591.png) > “the pyramids were built for pharaohs on the happy theory that they could take their stuff with them. Versailles was built for kings on the theory that they should live surrounded by the finest stuff. The Mall of America is built on the premise that we should all be able to afford this stuff. It may be a shallow culture, but it's by-God democratic. Sneer if you dare; this is something new in world history.” [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Monuments and consumer spaces reflect societies’ desire to own status symbols, revealing a shallow, democratic materialism that both critiques and normalizes excess. **In simple terms:** Buildings show our materialist, democratic culture. Key Takeaway Architecture mirrors societal values. Themes culture materialism democracy Mood satirical critical Type social commentary satire When to use this quote - urban planning debates - cultural studies classes - media commentary Key Concepts social critique consumerism Practical Applications - use architecture as a lens for social analysis - challenge consumerist narratives in education Questions to Reflect On - How does democratic access change the meaning of luxury? - What alternative symbols could societies adopt? A Different Perspective The sweeping generalization may overlook nuanced motivations behind such constructions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Consumerism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumerism/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [Malls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/malls/) [Pharaohs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pharaohs/) [Pyramids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pyramids/) [Shopping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shopping/) [Versailles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/versailles/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-history/) ## Related quotes > [I'm from Minnesota! I used to work Knuckleheads at the Mall of America as a stand-up. I spent New Year's there once. I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-gardell/i-m-from-minnesota-i-used-to-work-knuckleheads-at-the-mall-of-america/) [Billy Gardell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-gardell/) > [I have the great honor of representing Minnesota's Third Congressional District, which includes the western Twin Cities metro area and is home to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-phillips/i-have-the-great-honor-of-representing-minnesota-s-third/) [Dean Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-phillips/) > [Yes, the pyramids have been built, but if you give me 300,000 disciplined men and give me 30 years, I could build a bigger one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/yes-the-pyramids-have-been-built-but-if-you-give-me-300-000/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [“That’s what I love about people. They have dreams and grand ambitions, and they start building towards them, even though they know they won’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-abnett/that-s-what-i-love-about-people-they-have-dreams-and-grand-ambitions/) [Dan Abnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-abnett/) > [“When the ancient Egyptians finished building the pyramids, they had built the pyramids.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/when-the-ancient-egyptians-finished-building-the-pyramids-they-had/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“I have to admit, though, that Cynthia was a great organizer, but then, so were the men with whips who got the pyramids built.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bradley/i-have-to-admit-though-that-cynthia-was-a-great-organizer-but-then-so/) [Alan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bradley/) > [“Humans are so busy asking about who or what had built the pyramids. 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I'm interested in the kind of polarities and equilibriums that take place within sexuality and philosophy and sociology. So in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-koons/i-m-interested-in-power-i-m-interested-in-the-kind-of-polarities-and/) [Jeff Koons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-koons/) > [There was this one time in Vegas when I took four Victoria's Secret models and did one gram off each of their bodies within,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-sheen/there-was-this-one-time-in-vegas-when-i-took-four-victoria-s-secret/) [Charlie Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-sheen/) > [“machinery' of life at Versailles; and was able, too, to persuade herself that her silence, a shade of good humour or of arrogance on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/machinery-of-life-at-versailles-and-was-able-too-to-persuade-herself/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) ## More by Molly Ivins > [Preemptive war is what Israel did in '67 with Arab armies on its borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/preemptive-war-is-what-israel-did-in-67-with-arab-armies-on-its/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [The idols of one's adolescence tend to endure - you never forget how you worshipped them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-idols-of-one-s-adolescence-tend-to-endure-you-never-forget-how/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Having breast cancer is massive amounts of no fun,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/having-breast-cancer-is-massive-amounts-of-no-fun/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [How the American right managed to convince itself that the programs to alleviate poverty are responsible for the consequences of poverty will someday be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/how-the-american-right-managed-to-convince-itself-that-the-programs/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [To mistake Midland for the volk heartland is the West Texas equivalent of assuming that Greenwich, Connecticut, is Levittown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/to-mistake-midland-for-the-volk-heartland-is-the-west-texas/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [I only aim at the powerful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/i-only-aim-at-the-powerful/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Even for southerners, Arkansans are amazingly friendly and extend hospitality to all strangers with astonishing openness. You couldn't find a pretension in that state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/even-for-southerners-arkansans-are-amazingly-friendly-and-extend/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [It's hard to convince people that you're killing them for their own good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/it-s-hard-to-convince-people-that-you-re-killing-them-for-their-own/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Any nation that can survive what we have lately in the way of government, is on the high road to permanent glory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/any-nation-that-can-survive-what-we-have-lately-in-the-way-of/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [I think provincialism is an endemic characteristic with mankind, I think everybody everywhere is provincial, but it is particularly striking with Texans, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/i-think-provincialism-is-an-endemic-characteristic-with-mankind-i/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [During a recent panel on the numerous failures of American journalism, I proposed that almost all stories about government should begin: “Look out! They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/during-a-recent-panel-on-the-numerous-failures-of-american-journalism/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Naturally, when it comes to voting, we in Texas are accustomed to discerning that fine hair’s-breadth worth of difference that makes one hopeless dipstick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/naturally-when-it-comes-to-voting-we-in-texas-are-accustomed-to/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Be outrageous, ridicule the fraidy-cats, rejoice in all the oddities that freedom can produce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/be-outrageous-ridicule-the-fraidy-cats-rejoice-in-all-the-oddities/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Texas is not a civilized place. Texans shoot one another a lot. 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I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. 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