--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We really must understand that the lust…" description: "\"We really must understand that the lust for affluence in contemporary society is psychotic. It is psychotic because it has completely lost touch with r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/067/richard-j-foster-1460_affluence_we-really-must-understand-that-the-lust_633592.jpg" --- # We really must understand that the lust for affluence in… ![“We really must understand that the lust for affluence in contemporary society is psychotic. It is psychotic because it has completely lost touch with reality. We crave things we neither need nor enjoy. 'We buy things we do not want to impress people we do not like.' ...It is time to awaken to the…” quote by Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/067/richard-j-foster-1460_affluence_we-really-must-understand-that-the-lust_633592.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/067/richard-j-foster-1460_affluence_we-really-must-understand-that-the-lust_633592.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/067/richard-j-foster-1460_affluence_we-really-must-understand-that-the-lust_633592.jpg) > “We really must understand that the lust for affluence in contemporary society is psychotic. It is psychotic because it has completely lost touch with reality. We crave things we neither need nor enjoy. 'We buy things we do not want to impress people we do not like.' ...It is time to awaken to the fact that conformity to a sick society is to be sick.” [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques modern consumerism as a pathological obsession that disconnects people from genuine needs and authentic relationships. **In simple terms:** Consumerism is a harmful obsession that distances us from real needs. Key Takeaway Question and reduce unnecessary consumption. Themes materialism societal critique psychology authenticity Mood critical reflective Type philosophical social commentary When to use this quote - budgeting - mindful purchasing - community building - self‑reflection Key Concepts consumer culture psychological health social conformity Questions to Reflect On - What possessions do you own for image rather than need? - How can you foster authentic connections beyond material displays? A Different Perspective Changing habits can be socially challenging and uncomfortable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affluence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affluence/) [Affluence Contemporary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affluence-contemporary-1482108/) [Conformity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conformity/) [Conformity Sick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conformity-sick-2760714/) [Consumerism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumerism/) [Contemporary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemporary/) [Contemporary society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemporary-society/) [Enjoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Impress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impress/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Lust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lust/) [Lust Affluence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lust-affluence-1482106/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Psychotic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychotic/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Sick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sick/) [Sick society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sick-society/) [Society Psychotic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society-psychotic-1482107/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [We really must understand that the lust for affluence in contemporary society is psychotic. It is psychotic because it has completely lost touch with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/we-really-must-understand-that-the-lust-for-affluence-in-contemporary-2/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“Because we lack a divine Center our need for security has led us into an insane attachment to things. We really must understand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/because-we-lack-a-divine-center-our-need-for-security-has-led-us-into/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [The lust for affluence in contemporary society has become psychotic; it has completely lost touch with reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/the-lust-for-affluence-in-contemporary-society-has-become-psychotic/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [Conformity to a sick society is to be sick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/conformity-to-a-sick-society-is-to-be-sick/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“we are living in a sick society filled with people who would not directly steal from their neighbor but who are willing to demand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-l-comer/we-are-living-in-a-sick-society-filled-with-people-who-would-not/) [William L. Comer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-l-comer/) > [The mother killing her two children in South Carolina vividly reminds every American how sick the society is getting and how much we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/the-mother-killing-her-two-children-in-south-carolina-vividly-reminds/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [A sick society must think much about politics, as a sick man must think much about his digestion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/a-sick-society-must-think-much-about-politics-as-a-sick-man-must/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society. We have lost it, or we have never had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/it-is-no-measure-of-health-to-be-well-adjusted-to-a-profoundly-sick-2/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I contend that most emotional distress is best understood as a rational response to sick societies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-james/i-contend-that-most-emotional-distress-is-best-understood-as-a/) [Oliver James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-james/) > [“The problem we are giving sick people wrong attention. We should be giving them help instead of giving them attention. That is why we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/de-philosopher-dj-kyos/the-problem-we-are-giving-sick-people-wrong-attention-we-should-be/) [De philosopher DJ Kyos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/de-philosopher-dj-kyos/) > [Something is sick with our society that we have to deal with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/something-is-sick-with-our-society-that-we-have-to-deal-with/) [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) > [does a sick society get so used to its illness that it can't remember being well? what if the memory is too dangerous for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/does-a-sick-society-get-so-used-to-its-illness-that-it-can-t-remember/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-no-measure-of-health-to-be-well-adjusted-to-a-profoundly-sick/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Every one knows that our civilization is in difficulties, and the stupidity of the suggested remedies only indicates the gravity of the disease, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-g-collingwood/every-one-knows-that-our-civilization-is-in-difficulties-and-the/) [R. G. Collingwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-g-collingwood/) > [“as Krishnamurti said, “It is no measure of health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/as-krishnamurti-said-it-is-no-measure-of-health-to-be-well-adjusted/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) ## More by Richard J. Foster > [Prayer is - listening for the still small voice of God. Listening with the "ear of our hearts."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/prayer-is-listening-for-the-still-small-voice-of-god-listening-with/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [Over-consumption is a cancer eating away at our spiritual vitals. It distances us from the great masses of broken bleeding humanity. It converts us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/over-consumption-is-a-cancer-eating-away-at-our-spiritual-vitals-it/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“To believe that God can reach us and bless us in the ordinary junctures of daily life is the stuff of prayer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/to-believe-that-god-can-reach-us-and-bless-us-in-the-ordinary/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [Prayer is simply saying "thank you, bless you, praise you."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/prayer-is-simply-saying-thank-you-bless-you-praise-you/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [There is an old proverb to the effect that 'all those who open their mouths, close their eyes!' The purpose of silence and solitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/there-is-an-old-proverb-to-the-effect-that-all-those-who-open-their/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [It is an occupational hazard of devout folk to become stuffy bores. This should not be. Of all people, we should be the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/it-is-an-occupational-hazard-of-devout-folk-to-become-stuffy-bores/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“Lord God, you deserve my best. Forgive me for the times I have offered you only the dregs, whether it be half-heartedly muttered prayers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/lord-god-you-deserve-my-best-forgive-me-for-the-times-i-have-offered/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [Superficiality is the curse of our age. The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/superficiality-is-the-curse-of-our-age-the-doctrine-of-instant/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [If worship does not change us it has not been worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/if-worship-does-not-change-us-it-has-not-been-worship/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“I want to mention one other reason why we shy away from commitment. It is, very simply, the fear that we will not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/i-want-to-mention-one-other-reason-why-we-shy-away-from-commitment-it/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“It is one thing to act like a servant; it is quite another to be a servant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/it-is-one-thing-to-act-like-a-servant-it-is-quite-another-to-be-a/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“we hold on so tightly to the good that we do know that we cannot receive the greater good that we do not know.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/we-hold-on-so-tightly-to-the-good-that-we-do-know-that-we-cannot/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“Once we have made generous latitude for individual differences and schedules, we must firmly discipline ourselves to a regular pattern of prayer. We cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/once-we-have-made-generous-latitude-for-individual-differences-and/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [Freedom in the Gospel does not mean license. It means opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/freedom-in-the-gospel-does-not-mean-license-it-means-opportunity/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“The tongue is our most powerful weapon of manipulation. A frantic stream of words flows from us because we are in a constant process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/the-tongue-is-our-most-powerful-weapon-of-manipulation-a-frantic/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) [Explore all 239 Richard J. Foster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) ## More Affluence quotes > [In our own time the whole of Greece has been subject to a low birth rate and a general decrease of the population, owing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polybius/in-our-own-time-the-whole-of-greece-has-been-subject-to-a-low-birth/) [Polybius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polybius/) > [The secret of achieving prosperity lies in so vividly keeping yourself centered in the inner focus of affluence that you literally exude the consciousness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-butterworth/the-secret-of-achieving-prosperity-lies-in-so-vividly-keeping/) [Eric Butterworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-butterworth/) > [Affluence = abundant flow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-butterworth/affluence-abundant-flow/) [Eric Butterworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-butterworth/) > [“If I am to choose between integrity and wealth, I will go for integrity because I believe that lack of integrity is the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/if-i-am-to-choose-between-integrity-and-wealth-i-will-go-for/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > ['Playboy' made the good life a reality for me and made it the subject matter of my paintings - not affluence and luxury as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/playboy-made-the-good-life-a-reality-for-me-and-made-it-the-subject/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [Affluence creates poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/affluence-creates-poverty/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [The primary cause of disorder and lawlessness today, as throughout history, is the poverty of the many in contrast to the affluence of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-o-kelso/the-primary-cause-of-disorder-and-lawlessness-today-as-throughout/) [Louis O. Kelso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-o-kelso/) > [To generate any appreciable degree of long-term affluence requires scrupulous honesty and the willingness to honor long-term agreements with employers, suppliers, partners, and especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sheaffer/to-generate-any-appreciable-degree-of-long-term-affluence-requires/) [Robert Sheaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sheaffer/) > [“Imam Hussein Ibn Ali al-Shaheed was once asked: what is affluence? He said : Decreasing your wishes , and being satisfied with what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/imam-hussein-ibn-ali-al-shaheed-was-once-asked-what-is-affluence-he/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I don't want to be around people who accept me as is, in my unrefined state of becoming. I consistently want people around me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandi-l-bates/i-don-t-want-to-be-around-people-who-accept-me-as-is-in-my-unrefined/) [Brandi L. Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandi-l-bates/) > [Large department stores, with their luxuriant abundance of canned goods, foods, and clothing, are like the primary landscape and the geometrical locus of affluence.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/large-department-stores-with-their-luxuriant-abundance-of-canned/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) > [Owning a home is a keystone of wealth - both financial affluence and emotional security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/owning-a-home-is-a-keystone-of-wealth-both-financial-affluence-and/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [“Don’t let affluence make you impoverished of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bloom/don-t-let-affluence-make-you-impoverished-of-god/) [Jon Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bloom/) > [“Drama does not just walk into our lives. Either we create it, invite it, or associate with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandi-l-bates/drama-does-not-just-walk-into-our-lives-either-we-create-it-invite-it/) [Brandi L. Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandi-l-bates/) > [There is wealth but no wellbeing. What are you going to do with this wealth?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/there-is-wealth-but-no-wellbeing-what-are-you-going-to-do-with-this/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) [Browse all 181 Affluence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affluence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We really must understand that the lust for affluence in contemporary society is psychotic. It is psychotic because it has completely lost touch with reality. We crave things we neither need nor enjoy. 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