--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In a consumer society, expectations dare…" description: "\"In a consumer society, expectations dare not plateau, because a growing economy depends on rising expectations... The more we let our level of contentm..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb3/paul-brand-62809_car_in-a-consumer-society-expectations-dare_2007838.jpg" --- # In a consumer society, expectations dare not plateau… ![“In a consumer society, expectations dare not plateau, because a growing economy depends on rising expectations... The more we let our level of contentment be determined by outside factors-a new car, fashionable clothes, a prestigious career, social status-the more we relinquish control over our…” quote by Paul Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb3/paul-brand-62809_car_in-a-consumer-society-expectations-dare_2007838.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb3/paul-brand-62809_car_in-a-consumer-society-expectations-dare_2007838.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb3/paul-brand-62809_car_in-a-consumer-society-expectations-dare_2007838.jpg) > “In a consumer society, expectations dare not plateau, because a growing economy depends on rising expectations... The more we let our level of contentment be determined by outside factors-a new car, fashionable clothes, a prestigious career, social status-the more we relinquish control over our own happiness.” [Paul Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-brand/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Consumer societies fuel endless desire, linking happiness to external status symbols, which erodes personal agency. **In simple terms:** Happiness tied to possessions reduces control over joy. Key Takeaway Seek internal fulfillment over external validation. Themes consumerism happiness control expectations Mood reflective critical Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - personal budgeting - mindfulness practice - social media detox Key Concepts materialism psychology self-determination Questions to Reflect On - What possessions truly add value to your life? - How can you cultivate contentment without external validation? A Different Perspective External pressures can outweigh personal values, leading to chronic dissatisfaction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clothes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clothes/) [Consumerism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumerism/) [Consumers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumers/) [Contentment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contentment/) [Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Fashionable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashionable/) [Growing economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-economy/) [New car](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-car/) [Overconsumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overconsumption/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social status](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-status/) ## Related quotes > [“For all their privileges, their legions of servants, their chauffeur-driven cars, private yachts and planes, they are prisoners of society’s expectations and puppets of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-morton/for-all-their-privileges-their-legions-of-servants-their-chauffeur/) [Andrew Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-morton/) > [Fortunately I am not the first person to tell you that you will never die. 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And I didn’t want to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/i-didn-t-want-to-get-well-because-if-i-got-well-nobody-would-come-and/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [I hate being sad. I'm always happy, so I need to not let people hold control of my happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-being-sad-i-m-always-happy-so-i-need-to-not-let-people-hold/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nothing can take your joy; you have to give it away. You're in complete control of your happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/nothing-can-take-your-joy-you-have-to-give-it-away-you-re-in-complete/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [No one is in control of your happiness but you; therefore, you have the power to change anything about yourself or your life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-de-angelis/no-one-is-in-control-of-your-happiness-but-you-therefore-you-have-the/) [Barbara De Angelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-de-angelis/) ## More by Paul Brand > [I am convinced that the attitude we cultivate in advance may well determine how suffering will affect us when it does strike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-brand/i-am-convinced-that-the-attitude-we-cultivate-in-advance-may-well/) [Paul Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-brand/) > [We need to repent of our willing cooperation in our money-centered culture, which is depleting the natural resources that God designed for all humankind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-brand/we-need-to-repent-of-our-willing-cooperation-in-our-money-centered/) [Paul Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-brand/) > [A healthy body attends to the pain of the weakest part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-brand/a-healthy-body-attends-to-the-pain-of-the-weakest-part/) [Paul Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-brand/) > [“I have sometimes wondered why Jesus so frequently touched the people he healed, many of whom must have been unattractive, obviously diseased, unsanitary, smelly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-brand/i-have-sometimes-wondered-why-jesus-so-frequently-touched-the-people/) [Paul Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-brand/) [Explore all 5 Paul Brand quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-brand/) ## More Car quotes > [If you restore a car, and you're making money, then you're doing it wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/if-you-restore-a-car-and-you-re-making-money-then-you-re-doing-it/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... 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