Community Quote by Thorstein Veblen
“The basis on which good repute in any highly organized industrial community ultimately rests is pecuniary strength; and the means of showing pecuniary strength, and so of gaining or retaining a good name, are leisure and a conspicuous consumption of goods.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Theory of the Leisure Class, 1899
Social status is built on wealth display, using leisure and conspicuous consumption to signal prestige.
In simple terms: People show status by buying flashy things.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and question status-driven spending.
Themes
economics
social class
consumer behavior
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
sociological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- marketing strategy
- personal finance
- sociology research
- public policy
Key Concepts
conspicuous consumption
social signaling
Questions to Reflect On
- How does conspicuous consumption affect inequality?
- Can societies shift values away from material display?
A Different Perspective
Focus on substance over appearance can reduce waste.
![“I write for one and only one purpose, to overcome the invincible ignorance of the traduced heart. […] I wish to speak to and for those who have had enough of the Social Lie, the Economics of Mass Murder, the Sexual Hoax, and the Domestication of Conspicuous Consumption.” quote by Kenneth Rexroth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b9b/kenneth-rexroth-13529_conspicuous-consumpt_i-write-for-one-and-only-one-purpose-to_1029656.jpg)
![“The social [media channel] isn't about beauty contests and popularity contests. They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. It's about trust, connection, and community. That's what there's too little of in today's mediascape, despite all the hoopla surrounding social tools. The promise…” quote by Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c85/umair-haque-25881_beauty_the-social-media-channel-isn-t-about-bea_1270.jpg)
