--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The superior gratification derived from…" description: "\"The superior gratification derived from the use and contemplation of costly and supposedly beautiful products is, commonly, in great measure a gratific..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c85/thucydides-2578_beautiful_the-superior-gratification-derived-from_2636410.png" --- # The superior gratification derived from the use and… ![“The superior gratification derived from the use and contemplation of costly and supposedly beautiful products is, commonly, in great measure a gratification of our sense of costliness masquerading under the name of beauty.” quote by Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c85/thucydides-2578_beautiful_the-superior-gratification-derived-from_2636410.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c85/thucydides-2578_beautiful_the-superior-gratification-derived-from_2636410.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c85/thucydides-2578_beautiful_the-superior-gratification-derived-from_2636410.png) > “The superior gratification derived from the use and contemplation of costly and supposedly beautiful products is, commonly, in great measure a gratification of our sense of costliness masquerading under the name of beauty.” [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Luxury goods are admired not only for beauty but also for the status they convey, masking a desire for prestige. **In simple terms:** Beauty hides status desire. Key Takeaway Recognize status motives behind purchases. Themes consumerism status beauty materialism psychology Mood critical analytical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - shopping - gift giving - interior design - fashion trends Key Concepts sociology economics Questions to Reflect On - Why do you value certain products? - How does status influence your choices? A Different Perspective Focusing on status can lead to shallow values. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Contemplation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplation/) [Gratification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratification/) [Gratification Derived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratification-derived-897912/) [Gratification Sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratification-sense-2231353/) [Masquerading Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masquerading-beauty-2231354/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [Superior Gratification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superior-gratification-2231352/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) ## Related quotes > [Beauty is commonly a gratification of our sense of costliness masquerading under the name of beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorstein-veblen/beauty-is-commonly-a-gratification-of-our-sense-of-costliness/) [Thorstein Veblen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorstein-veblen/) > [Actively deciding to give to causes that move you deeply is far more fulfilling than the momentary gratification derived from signing a check and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-arrillaga-andreessen/actively-deciding-to-give-to-causes-that-move-you-deeply-is-far-more/) [Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-arrillaga-andreessen/) > [“The problem is that the payoff or instant gratification derived from bad habits often far outweighs what’s going on in your rational mind concerning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hardy/the-problem-is-that-the-payoff-or-instant-gratification-derived-from/) [Darren Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hardy/) > [“The nuisance of her presence outweighs the gratification to be derived from tormenting her”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/the-nuisance-of-her-presence-outweighs-the-gratification-to-be/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [“They therefore have no opportunity to suffer the interval between desire and gratification which the less privileged endure, and which, for all its apparent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/they-therefore-have-no-opportunity-to-suffer-the-interval-between/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [I definitely think we're living in a world or generation where we need constant gratification and adoration with Instagram and likes, and we base…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-ballinger/i-definitely-think-we-re-living-in-a-world-or-generation-where-we/) [Colleen Ballinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-ballinger/) > [“When we allow ourselves to show some patience and take time to listen to the others, we may learn a lot about ourselves. 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Therefore do not take lightly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/be-convinced-that-to-be-happy-means-to-be-free-and-that-to-be-free/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [It is the habit of mankind to entrust to careless hope what they long for, and to use sovereign reason to thrust aside what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/it-is-the-habit-of-mankind-to-entrust-to-careless-hope-what-they-long/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [Boasting and bravado may exist in the breast even of the coward, if he is successful through a mere lucky hit; but a just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/boasting-and-bravado-may-exist-in-the-breast-even-of-the-coward-if-he/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [Contempt for an assailant is best shown by bravery in action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/contempt-for-an-assailant-is-best-shown-by-bravery-in-action/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [The secret of happiness is freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/the-secret-of-happiness-is-freedom/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [And it is certain that those who do not yield to their equals, who keep terms with their superiors, and are moderate towards their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/and-it-is-certain-that-those-who-do-not-yield-to-their-equals-who/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [The strong do what they have to do and the weak accept what they have to accept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/the-strong-do-what-they-have-to-do-and-the-weak-accept-what-they-have/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [It is useless to attack men who could not be controlled even if conquered, while failure would leave us in an even worse position...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/it-is-useless-to-attack-men-who-could-not-be-controlled-even-if/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [War is an evil thing; but to submit to the dictation of other states is worse… Freedom, if we hold fast to it, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/war-is-an-evil-thing-but-to-submit-to-the-dictation-of-other-states/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [Men do not rest content with parrying the attacks of a superior, but often strike the first blow to prevent the attack being made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/men-do-not-rest-content-with-parrying-the-attacks-of-a-superior-but/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [As for democracy, the men of sense among us knew what it was, and I perhaps as well as any, as I have more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/as-for-democracy-the-men-of-sense-among-us-knew-what-it-was-and-i/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [War is a matter not so much of arms as of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/war-is-a-matter-not-so-much-of-arms-as-of-money/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [Amassing of wealth is an opportunity for good deeds, not hubris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/amassing-of-wealth-is-an-opportunity-for-good-deeds-not-hubris/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [People get into the habit of entrusting the things they desire to wishful thinking, and subjecting things they don't desire to exhaustive thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/people-get-into-the-habit-of-entrusting-the-things-they-desire-to/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [Hope is an expensive commodity. It makes better sense to be prepared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/hope-is-an-expensive-commodity-it-makes-better-sense-to-be-prepared/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) [Explore all 160 Thucydides quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) ## More Beautiful quotes > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) > [Being beautiful comes naturally!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-beautiful-comes-naturally/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. 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