---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The media, when it's functioning…"
description: "\"The media, when it's functioning properly, protects the public against marketers and their ceaseless attempts to trick people into buying things.\" — Ry..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/ryan-holiday-514_buying_the-media-when-it-s-functioning-properly_2495705.jpg"
---

#  The media, when it's functioning properly, protects the…

![“The media, when it's functioning properly, protects the public against marketers and their ceaseless attempts to trick people into buying things.” quote by Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/ryan-holiday-514_buying_the-media-when-it-s-functioning-properly_2495705.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/ryan-holiday-514_buying_the-media-when-it-s-functioning-properly_2495705.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/ryan-holiday-514_buying_the-media-when-it-s-functioning-properly_2495705.jpg)

> “The media, when it's functioning properly, protects the public against marketers and their ceaseless attempts to trick people into buying things.”

[Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

When media works right, it shields people from manipulative advertising and protects consumer autonomy.

**In simple terms:** Good media blocks deceptive marketing.

Key Takeaway

Support trustworthy journalism.

Themes

media consumer protection advertising truth

Mood

cautious optimistic

Type

analytical motivational

When to use this quote

- shopping decisions
- media consumption
- policy making
- public education

Key Concepts

critical thinking media literacy

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we ensure media remains vigilant?
- What responsibilities do journalists have?

A Different Perspective

Media can be biased or fail to act.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Buying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buying/) [Buying things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buying-things/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Marketers Ceaseless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marketers-ceaseless-1010044/) [Media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/media/) [Media Functioning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/media-functioning-1010042/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Properly Protects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/properly-protects-1010045/) [Protects Public](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protects-public-1010041/) [Public Marketers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-marketers-1010043/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Trick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trick/)

## Related quotes

> [Truth is, people like buying things for $0.99 and $1.99 for their digital devices. We know that from iTunes. We know that from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lee/truth-is-people-like-buying-things-for-0-99-and-1-99-for-their/)

[Jennifer Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lee/)

> [I'm buying things for people I don't even know. I'm like Willy Wonka, but more manipulative. Imagine if Willy Wonka had a devious goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/i-m-buying-things-for-people-i-don-t-even-know-i-m-like-willy-wonka/)

[Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/)

> [I love buying things. I could be one of those crazy hoarders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-chancellor/i-love-buying-things-i-could-be-one-of-those-crazy-hoarders/)

[Anna Chancellor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-chancellor/)

> [Federal election laws bar candidates from the 'personal use' of campaign donations - a ban meant to stop candidates from buying things unrelated to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fahrenthold/federal-election-laws-bar-candidates-from-the-personal-use-of/)

[David Fahrenthold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fahrenthold/)

> [“Buying things is only sometimes about owning the things. Buying often is simply about what 50 Cent observed: being ABLE to buy. Having less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-beckwith/buying-things-is-only-sometimes-about-owning-the-things-buying-often/)

[Harry Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-beckwith/)

> [Our economy is based on spending billions to persuade people that happiness is buying things, and then insisting that the only way to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-slater/our-economy-is-based-on-spending-billions-to-persuade-people-that/)

[Philip Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-slater/)

> [Who would want one's children growing up buying things like bitcoin? I hope to God my family doesn't buy it. It's noxious poison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/who-would-want-one-s-children-growing-up-buying-things-like-bitcoin-i/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [Basically we get confused a bit about what retail is. It is really just buying things, putting them on a floor and selling them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-harvey/basically-we-get-confused-a-bit-about-what-retail-is-it-is-really/)

[Gerry Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-harvey/)

> [You think money can solve any problem, but all it s good for is buying the things it can, and leaving you free to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-herendeen/you-think-money-can-solve-any-problem-but-all-it-s-good-for-is-buying/)

[Ann Herendeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-herendeen/)

> [“Too many people are buying things they can't afford, with money that they don't have... to impress people that they don't like!" Nothing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/too-many-people-are-buying-things-they-can-t-afford-with-money-that/)

[Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/)

> [If we didn't have the Chinese buying things, we'd be on the floor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-westwood/if-we-didn-t-have-the-chinese-buying-things-we-d-be-on-the-floor/)

[Vivienne Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-westwood/)

> [It's nice to have a lot of money, but you know, you don't want to keep it around forever. I prefer buying things. Otherwise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/it-s-nice-to-have-a-lot-of-money-but-you-know-you-don-t-want-to-keep/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [So, where are the robots? We've been told for 40 years already that they're coming soon. Very soon they'll be doing everything for us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hod-lipson/so-where-are-the-robots-we-ve-been-told-for-40-years-already-that/)

[Hod Lipson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hod-lipson/)

> [There's a whole generation of women who never really heard the word investment before, when it came to fashion. They've been buying things because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kors/there-s-a-whole-generation-of-women-who-never-really-heard-the-word/)

[Michael Kors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kors/)

> [I never cared about buying things for myself, like clothes. And then all of a sudden I realized how great it is to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-jacobs/i-never-cared-about-buying-things-for-myself-like-clothes-and-then/)

[Marc Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-jacobs/)

## More by Ryan Holiday

> [“If we can focus on making clear what parts of our day are within our control and what parts are not, we will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/if-we-can-focus-on-making-clear-what-parts-of-our-day-are-within-our/)

[Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/)

> [“The areas of great interest to the Stoics all make an appearance here: virtue, mortality, emotions, self-awareness, fortitude, right action, problem solving, acceptance, mental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-areas-of-great-interest-to-the-stoics-all-make-an-appearance-here/)

[Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/)

> [“With a business, we take most failures less personally and understand they’re part of the process.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/with-a-business-we-take-most-failures-less-personally-and-understand/)

[Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/)

> [“Many creatives want to be just the creator, or only “the idea guy.” They like that because it’s sexy and because that’s what comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/many-creatives-want-to-be-just-the-creator-or-only-the-idea-guy-they/)

[Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/)

> [Pretty much everyone's career starts the same way: with grunt work. Not just the cliched fetching of coffee, but other lowly tasks: taking notes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/pretty-much-everyone-s-career-starts-the-same-way-with-grunt-work-not/)

[Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/)

> [The greats - they protect their sleep because it's where the best work comes from. They say no to things. They turn in when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-greats-they-protect-their-sleep-because-it-s-where-the-best-work/)

[Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/)

> [“Where little danger is apprehended, the more the enemy will be unprepared and consequently there is the fairest prospect of success.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/where-little-danger-is-apprehended-the-more-the-enemy-will-be/)

[Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/)

> [We often learn the hard way that our world is ruled by external factors. We don't always get what is rightfully ours, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/we-often-learn-the-hard-way-that-our-world-is-ruled-by-external/)

[Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/)

> [“From Rusticus … I learned to read carefully and not be satisfied with a rough understanding of the whole, and not to agree too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/from-rusticus-i-learned-to-read-carefully-and-not-be-satisfied-with-a/)

[Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/)

> [I wholeheartedly agree that many media 'standards' can feel disingenuous or, in fact, be a cover for less-than-honest behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/i-wholeheartedly-agree-that-many-media-standards-can-feel/)

[Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/)

> [“Remember: even what we get for free has a cost, if only in what we pay to store it—in our garages and in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/remember-even-what-we-get-for-free-has-a-cost-if-only-in-what-we-pay/)

[Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/)

> [It's your job to find a release and an outlet for the stress and the feelings. Never forget: the crazy stays at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/it-s-your-job-to-find-a-release-and-an-outlet-for-the-stress-and-the/)

[Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/)

> [Where the head goes, the body follows. Perception precedes action. Right action follows the right perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/where-the-head-goes-the-body-follows-perception-precedes-action-right/)

[Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/)

> [The risks of speaking extemporaneously are apparent the first time you wing it and promptly put your foot in your mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-risks-of-speaking-extemporaneously-are-apparent-the-first-time/)

[Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/)

> [“The tools of the Internet and social media have made it possible to track, test, iterate, and improve marketing to the point where these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-tools-of-the-internet-and-social-media-have-made-it-possible-to/)

[Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/)

[Explore all 504 Ryan Holiday quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/)

## More Buying quotes

> [To me, the beauty of a quilt or a dress lies within the stitches and the thought of the person who made them. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie/to-me-the-beauty-of-a-quilt-or-a-dress-lies-within-the-stitches-and/)

[Natalie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie/)

> [Look at music for what it's worth around the world and not just America. In other countries, people are still buying CDs and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/look-at-music-for-what-it-s-worth-around-the-world-and-not-just/)

[Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/)

> [Corporations invest in sophisticated CRM, or Customer Relationship Management, programs to effectively oversee their relationship with their customers at every point during the buying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-ostrofsky/corporations-invest-in-sophisticated-crm-or-customer-relationship/)

[Marc Ostrofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ostrofsky/)

> [I'm being called in by all the great casting directors. It's no longer based on a headshot. I realize now what they're buying is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-gonzalez/i-m-being-called-in-by-all-the-great-casting-directors-it-s-no-longer/)

[Nicholas Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-gonzalez/)

> [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/)

[Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/)

> [A hardback's harder at Christmas time because that's a good hardback buying time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-hardback-s-harder-at-christmas-time-because-that-s-a-good-hardback/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [Truth is, people like buying things for $0.99 and $1.99 for their digital devices. We know that from iTunes. We know that from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lee/truth-is-people-like-buying-things-for-0-99-and-1-99-for-their/)

[Jennifer Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lee/)

> [There's a whole generation of women who never really heard the word investment before, when it came to fashion. They've been buying things because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kors/there-s-a-whole-generation-of-women-who-never-really-heard-the-word/)

[Michael Kors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kors/)

> [I think buying a home is the best investment that any individual can make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paulson/i-think-buying-a-home-is-the-best-investment-that-any-individual-can/)

[John Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paulson/)

> [The more a prospective customer clicks on you and your stuff, the easier it is for them to make a buying decision in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/the-more-a-prospective-customer-clicks-on-you-and-your-stuff-the/)

[Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/)

> [“If you have half a nothing - sell it for a double something, resell half at double-price, and buy another something and a half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-advise/if-you-have-half-a-nothing-sell-it-for-a-double-something-resell-half/)

[Will Advise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-advise/)

> [Every kid looks forward to buying their first JanSport backpack for school - you know my kids did!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-buteau/every-kid-looks-forward-to-buying-their-first-jansport-backpack-for/)

[Michelle Buteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-buteau/)

> [What is the focus of the new image infrastructure? Attention. It's all designed for capturing, tracking, quantifying, manipulating, holding, buying, selling and controlling attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-mau/what-is-the-focus-of-the-new-image-infrastructure-attention-it-s-all/)

[Bruce Mau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-mau/)

> [It’s always going to be easy to live like others or other’s life, because creating or innovating something of own is always difficult in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuj/it-s-always-going-to-be-easy-to-live-like-others-or-other-s-life/)

[Anuj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuj/)

> [The truth is, if I was maybe better or funnier or prettier, wouldn't I have starred in a movie? I can see it objectively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-greer/the-truth-is-if-i-was-maybe-better-or-funnier-or-prettier-wouldn-t-i/)

[Judy Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-greer/)

[Browse all 1,598 Buying quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buying/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The media, when it's functioning properly, protects the public against marketers and their ceaseless attempts to trick people into buying things.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ryan Holiday"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-media-when-it-s-functioning-properly-protects-the-public-against/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Buying"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-media-when-it-s-functioning-properly-protects-the-public-against/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/ryan-holiday-514_buying_the-media-when-it-s-functioning-properly_2495705.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/ryan-holiday-514_buying_the-media-when-it-s-functioning-properly_2495705.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/ryan-holiday-514_buying_the-media-when-it-s-functioning-properly_2495705.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The media, when it's functioning properly, protects the public against marketers and their ceaseless…” — Ryan Holiday",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ryan Holiday",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The media, when it's functioning properly,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-media-when-it-s-functioning-properly-protects-the-public-against/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-media-when-it-s-functioning-properly-protects-the-public-against/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
