Face value Quote by Tom Robbins
““What was that sound? That rustling noise? It could be heard in the icy North, where there was not one leaf left upon one tree, it could be heard in the South, where the crinoline skirts lay deep in the mothballs, as still and quiet as wool. It could be heard from sea to shining sea, o'er purple mountains' majesty and upon the fruited plain. What was it? Why, it was the rustle of thousands of bags of potato chips being pulled from supermarket racks; it was the rustle of plastic bags being filled with beer and soda pop and quarts of hard liquor; it was the rustle of newspaper pages fanning as readers turned eagerly to the sports section; it was the rustle of currency changing hands as tickets were scalped for forty times their face value and two hundred and seventy million dollars were waged upon one or the other of two professional football teams. It was the rustle of Super Bowl week...””
About This Quote
Source Book: Still Life with Woodpeckers by Tom Robbins, 1980
The passage sat how consumerism and mass events permeate every corner of society, turning ordinary sounds into symbols of excess and spectacle.
In simple terms: Consumerism fills even the quietest places.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the hidden costs of mass consumption.
Themes
consumerism
materialism
culture
spectacle
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
observational
satirical
When to use this quote
- shopping malls
- sports events
- media coverage
- holiday sales
- concerts
Key Concepts
capitalism
mass media
psychology of desire
Questions to Reflect On
- How does mass consumption shape your daily life?
- Can you find balance between enjoyment and excess?
A Different Perspective
It overlooks personal agency and the joy some find in these rituals.
