--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This taken-for-granted understanding…" description: "\"“This taken-for-granted understanding about what it means to be human-- that one must be fixed, adjusted, remade, or healed-- seems to be so central an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/philip-cushman-43411_different-people_this-taken-for-granted-understanding-abo_2216665.jpg" --- # This taken-for-granted understanding about what it means… ![“This taken-for-granted understanding about what it means to be human-- that one must be fixed, adjusted, remade, or healed-- seems to be so central an aspect of the postwar clearing that it is never really noticed, let alone challenged...Consumers 'know' without being told or convinced, that they…” quote by Philip Cushman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/philip-cushman-43411_different-people_this-taken-for-granted-understanding-abo_2216665.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/philip-cushman-43411_different-people_this-taken-for-granted-understanding-abo_2216665.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/philip-cushman-43411_different-people_this-taken-for-granted-understanding-abo_2216665.jpg) > ““This taken-for-granted understanding about what it means to be human-- that one must be fixed, adjusted, remade, or healed-- seems to be so central an aspect of the postwar clearing that it is never really noticed, let alone challenged...Consumers 'know' without being told or convinced, that they are not adequate as they are. They appear to be fully aware that they are inadequate, unattractive, incomplete or inconsequential and must be transformed into different people in order to be happy, loved, and fulfilled.”” [Philip Cushman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-cushman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society pushes the idea that humans are inherently flawed and must be constantly improved, driving endless consumption and self‑transformation. **In simple terms:** People are told they’re inadequate and need fixing. Key Takeaway Question the narrative of perpetual self‑improvement. Themes psychology consumerism identity postwar culture Mood critical analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - advertising campaigns - social media - beauty standards Key Concepts self‑esteem market pressure self‑help industry Questions to Reflect On - Do you accept the need for self‑improvement? - What alternatives to consumer‑driven change exist? A Different Perspective Not everyone desires or benefits from constant change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Challenged Consumers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenged-consumers-4929857/) [Consumers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumers/) [Different people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-people/) [Granted Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/granted-understanding-4929855/) [Inconsequential Transformed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inconsequential-transformed-4929856/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Taken Granted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken-granted/) ## Related quotes > [I'm fortunate in one way and I can take pride from the fact that I've consistently performed for 10 years, which is something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cavendish/i-m-fortunate-in-one-way-and-i-can-take-pride-from-the-fact-that-i-ve/) [Mark Cavendish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cavendish/) > [When I give, it does not come with strings, I'm not keeping track of what you owe me. 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But you are still expected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-higgins/you-know-that-you-are-being-taken-for-granted-when-you-are-no-longer/) [Rebecca Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-higgins/) > [Even the strongest feelings expire when ignored and taken for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/even-the-strongest-feelings-expire-when-ignored-and-taken-for-granted/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being taken for granted is an unpleasant but sincere form of praise. Ironically, the more reliable you are and the less you complain, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/being-taken-for-granted-is-an-unpleasant-but-sincere-form-of-praise/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [I'm not afraid of death. But I fear most the time that I will be taken for granted... forgotten... and left alone by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/i-m-not-afraid-of-death-but-i-fear-most-the-time-that-i-will-be-taken/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/) ## More by Philip Cushman > [“We in the West are accustomed to thinking that humans are all basically the same underneath our different cultural clothing, that the concerns the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-cushman/we-in-the-west-are-accustomed-to-thinking-that-humans-are-all/) [Philip Cushman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-cushman/) > [“He accepted without question the notion that there is such a thing as 'normal,' that most people have attained it, and that it could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-cushman/he-accepted-without-question-the-notion-that-there-is-such-a-thing-as/) [Philip Cushman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-cushman/) > [“The self is configured in ways that both reflect and influence the very foundations of social life and everyday living. 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A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the greed of his consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/tariff-n-a-scale-of-taxes-on-imports-designed-to-protect-the-domestic/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Browse all 1,606 Consumers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“This taken-for-granted understanding about what it means to be human-- that one must be fixed, adjusted, remade, or healed-- seems to be so central an aspect of the postwar clearing that it is never really noticed, let alone challenged...Consumers 'know' without being told or convinced, that they are not adequate as they are. 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