---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The walking stick serves the purpose of…"
description: "\"The walking stick serves the purpose of an advertisement that the bearer's hands are employed otherwise than in useful effort, and it therefore has uti..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a34/thorstein-veblen-10833_advertisements_the-walking-stick-serves-the-purpose-of_2228970.jpg"
---

#  The walking stick serves the purpose of an advertisement…

![“The walking stick serves the purpose of an advertisement that the bearer's hands are employed otherwise than in useful effort, and it therefore has utility as an evidence of leisure.” quote by Thorstein Veblen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a34/thorstein-veblen-10833_advertisements_the-walking-stick-serves-the-purpose-of_2228970.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a34/thorstein-veblen-10833_advertisements_the-walking-stick-serves-the-purpose-of_2228970.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a34/thorstein-veblen-10833_advertisements_the-walking-stick-serves-the-purpose-of_2228970.jpg)

> “The walking stick serves the purpose of an advertisement that the bearer's hands are employed otherwise than in useful effort, and it therefore has utility as an evidence of leisure.”

[Thorstein Veblen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorstein-veblen/)

## About This Quote

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

A walking stick signals that the owner’s hands are free from labor, serving as a status symbol of leisure.

**In simple terms:** Walking stick shows leisure status.

Key Takeaway

Recognize symbols of status in everyday objects.

Themes

status leisure symbolism social class

Mood

analytical critical

Type

sociological observational

When to use this quote

- fashion
- business meetings
- social gatherings
- public spaces

Key Concepts

conspicuous consumption social signaling class distinction

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you use objects to signal status?
- How does visible leisure affect perception?

A Different Perspective

Relying on symbols can mask true productivity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Leisure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leisure/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Walking sticks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walking-sticks/)

## Related quotes

> [Literature is a bad crutch, but a good walking-stick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/literature-is-a-bad-crutch-but-a-good-walking-stick/)

[Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/)

> [A stroke of a man knocking a thistle top with a walking stick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-arlott/a-stroke-of-a-man-knocking-a-thistle-top-with-a-walking-stick/)

[John Arlott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arlott/)

> [He can play that leg glance with a walking stick also.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waqar-younis/he-can-play-that-leg-glance-with-a-walking-stick-also/)

[Waqar Younis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waqar-younis/)

> [No reporter of my generation, whatever his genius, ever really rated spats and a walking stick until he had covered both a lynching and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/no-reporter-of-my-generation-whatever-his-genius-ever-really-rated/)

[H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/)

> [When I am furious about something, I sometimes beat the ground or a tree with my walking stick. But I certainly do not believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-wittgenstein/when-i-am-furious-about-something-i-sometimes-beat-the-ground-or-a/)

[Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-wittgenstein/)

> [I ran into the gigantic and gigantically wasteful lumbering of great Sequoias, many of whose trunks were so huge they had to be blown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gifford-pinchot/i-ran-into-the-gigantic-and-gigantically-wasteful-lumbering-of-great/)

[Gifford Pinchot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gifford-pinchot/)

> [Ban walking sticks in wilderness. Hikers that use walking sticks are more likely to chase animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/ban-walking-sticks-in-wilderness-hikers-that-use-walking-sticks-are/)

[Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/)

> [using parking meters as walking sticks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/using-parking-meters-as-walking-sticks/)

[Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/)

> [Living in the modern world, clothed and muffled, forced to convey our sense of our bodies in terms of remote symbols like walking sticks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/living-in-the-modern-world-clothed-and-muffled-forced-to-convey-our/)

[Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/)

> [When Mama starts to move across a room, people pay attention. You can never be sure she's not going to grab you by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-white/when-mama-starts-to-move-across-a-room-people-pay-attention-you-can/)

[Bailey White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-white/)

> [“He’ll take one look at us and run in the other direction. Lest the lame-legged boy chase him with his walking stick.” “It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerri-maniscalco/he-ll-take-one-look-at-us-and-run-in-the-other-direction-lest-the/)

[Kerri Maniscalco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerri-maniscalco/)

> [before the gate -- my walking stick's made a river of melting snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobayashi-issa/before-the-gate-my-walking-stick-s-made-a-river-of-melting-snow/)

[Kobayashi Issa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobayashi-issa/)

> [“You can use a spear as a walking stick, but that will not change its nature.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/you-can-use-a-spear-as-a-walking-stick-but-that-will-not-change-its/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [“As long as you can walk, you will find a walking stick. As long as you are brave, someone will help you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-george/as-long-as-you-can-walk-you-will-find-a-walking-stick-as-long-as-you/)

[Nina George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-george/)

> [Beware of the man who will not engage in idle conversation; he is planning to steal your walking stick or water your stock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-emerson/beware-of-the-man-who-will-not-engage-in-idle-conversation-he-is/)

William Emerson

## More by Thorstein Veblen

> [Born in iniquity and conceived in sin, the spirit of nationalism has never ceased to bend human institutions to the service of dissension and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorstein-veblen/born-in-iniquity-and-conceived-in-sin-the-spirit-of-nationalism-has/)

[Thorstein Veblen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorstein-veblen/)

> [In aesthetic theory it might be extremely difficult, if not quite impracticable, to draw a line between the canon of classicism, or regard for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorstein-veblen/in-aesthetic-theory-it-might-be-extremely-difficult-if-not-quite/)

[Thorstein Veblen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorstein-veblen/)

> [The addiction to sports, therefore, in a peculiar degree marks an arrested development in man's moral nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorstein-veblen/the-addiction-to-sports-therefore-in-a-peculiar-degree-marks-an/)

[Thorstein Veblen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorstein-veblen/)

> [A protective tariff is a typical conspiracy in restraint of trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorstein-veblen/a-protective-tariff-is-a-typical-conspiracy-in-restraint-of-trade/)

[Thorstein Veblen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorstein-veblen/)

> [It is much more difficult to recede from a scale of expenditure once adopted than it is to extend the accustomed scale in response…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorstein-veblen/it-is-much-more-difficult-to-recede-from-a-scale-of-expenditure-once/)

[Thorstein Veblen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorstein-veblen/)

> [A standard of living is of the nature of habit. ...it acts almost solely to prevent recession from a scale of conspicuous expenditure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorstein-veblen/a-standard-of-living-is-of-the-nature-of-habit-it-acts-almost-solely/)

[Thorstein Veblen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorstein-veblen/)

> [With the exception of the instinct of self-preservation, the propensity for emulation is probably the strongest and most alert and persistent of the economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorstein-veblen/with-the-exception-of-the-instinct-of-self-preservation-the/)

[Thorstein Veblen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorstein-veblen/)

> [It frequently happens that an element of the standard of living which set out with being primarily wasteful, ends with becoming, in the apprehension…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorstein-veblen/it-frequently-happens-that-an-element-of-the-standard-of-living-which/)

[Thorstein Veblen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorstein-veblen/)

> [All business sagacity reduces itself in the last analysis to judicious use of sabotage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorstein-veblen/all-business-sagacity-reduces-itself-in-the-last-analysis-to/)

[Thorstein Veblen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorstein-veblen/)

> [“She lives with man on terms of equality, knows nothing of that relation of status which is the ancient basis of all distinctions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorstein-veblen/she-lives-with-man-on-terms-of-equality-knows-nothing-of-that/)

[Thorstein Veblen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorstein-veblen/)

> [The thief or swindler who has gained great wealth by his delinquency has a better chance than the small thief of escaping the rigorous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorstein-veblen/the-thief-or-swindler-who-has-gained-great-wealth-by-his-delinquency/)

[Thorstein Veblen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorstein-veblen/)

> [The dog commends himself to our favor by affording play to our propensity for mastery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorstein-veblen/the-dog-commends-himself-to-our-favor-by-affording-play-to-our/)

[Thorstein Veblen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorstein-veblen/)

> [“The ceremonial differentiation of the dietary is best seen in the use of intoxicating beverages and narcotics. If these articles of consumption are costly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorstein-veblen/the-ceremonial-differentiation-of-the-dietary-is-best-seen-in-the-use/)

[Thorstein Veblen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorstein-veblen/)

> [The machine technology takes no cognizance of conventionally established rules of precedence; it knows neither manners nor breeding and can make no use of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorstein-veblen/the-machine-technology-takes-no-cognizance-of-conventionally/)

[Thorstein Veblen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorstein-veblen/)

> [Loud dress becomes offensive to people of taste, as evincing an undue desire to reach and impress the untrained sensibilities of the vulgar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorstein-veblen/loud-dress-becomes-offensive-to-people-of-taste-as-evincing-an-undue/)

[Thorstein Veblen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorstein-veblen/)

[Explore all 63 Thorstein Veblen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorstein-veblen/)

## More Advertisement quotes

> [“Take care of your costume and your confidence will take care of itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/take-care-of-your-costume-and-your-confidence-will-take-care-of-itself/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [“In general, poor is polite and rich is rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/in-general-poor-is-polite-and-rich-is-rude/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [“Sarah drew a deep breath and released it slowly, waiting for her voice to steady before she spoke. “It’s a ve ry good story.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-dee/sarah-drew-a-deep-breath-and-released-it-slowly-waiting-for-her-voice/)

[Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/)

> [“The smell of the sweat is not sweet, but the fruit of the sweat is very sweet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/the-smell-of-the-sweat-is-not-sweet-but-the-fruit-of-the-sweat-is/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [If there's one thing I've always taken care of with my work, it's that it's never an advertisement for anything other than the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jr/if-there-s-one-thing-i-ve-always-taken-care-of-with-my-work-it-s-that/)

JR

> [I think if you can create a meaningful thing that is also an advertisement that's a pretty cool option for brands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-walters/i-think-if-you-can-create-a-meaningful-thing-that-is-also-an/)

[Doug Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-walters/)

> [“Don't compare the size of your roof with the size of the sky.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/don-t-compare-the-size-of-your-roof-with-the-size-of-the-sky/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [Basically, art should remain something that is complex, that has many layers, so there's always a possibility to reconsider things and have a different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-henrot/basically-art-should-remain-something-that-is-complex-that-has-many/)

[Camille Henrot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-henrot/)

> [“Advertisement! A device for forcing the unwilling into line. Did it matter to a ground vehicle manufacturer whether a given individual felt an original…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/advertisement-a-device-for-forcing-the-unwilling-into-line-did-it/)

[Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/)

> [“All worries are less with wine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/all-worries-are-less-with-wine/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [The most excellent and divine counsel, the best and most profitable advertisement of all others, but the least practiced, is to study and learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-charron/the-most-excellent-and-divine-counsel-the-best-and-most-profitable/)

[Pierre Charron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-charron/)

> [I would rather die than see my face in a car advertisement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azzedine-alaia/i-would-rather-die-than-see-my-face-in-a-car-advertisement/)

[Azzedine Alaia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azzedine-alaia/)

> [“The mistakes of the world are warning message for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/the-mistakes-of-the-world-are-warning-message-for-you/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [advertisement ... has brought our disregard for truth into the open without even a figleaf to cover it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/advertisement-has-brought-our-disregard-for-truth-into-the-open/)

[Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/)

> [“Connecting to the outernet was less of a shock this time, as the monitor gave him a sense of distance from it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-friedman/connecting-to-the-outernet-was-less-of-a-shock-this-time-as-the/)

[C.S. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-friedman/)

Browse all 193 Advertisement quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The walking stick serves the purpose of an advertisement that the bearer's hands are employed otherwise than in useful effort, and it therefore has utility as an evidence of leisure.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Thorstein Veblen"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorstein-veblen/the-walking-stick-serves-the-purpose-of-an-advertisement-that-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Advertisement"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorstein-veblen/the-walking-stick-serves-the-purpose-of-an-advertisement-that-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a34/thorstein-veblen-10833_advertisements_the-walking-stick-serves-the-purpose-of_2228970.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a34/thorstein-veblen-10833_advertisements_the-walking-stick-serves-the-purpose-of_2228970.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a34/thorstein-veblen-10833_advertisements_the-walking-stick-serves-the-purpose-of_2228970.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The walking stick serves the purpose of an advertisement that the bearer's hands are employed otherwise than…” — Thorstein Veblen",
                "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": "Thorstein Veblen",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorstein-veblen/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The walking stick serves the purpose...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorstein-veblen/the-walking-stick-serves-the-purpose-of-an-advertisement-that-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorstein-veblen/the-walking-stick-serves-the-purpose-of-an-advertisement-that-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```