David Foster Wallace Quote by William Deresiewicz
““In The Pale King, David Foster Wallace has his narrator remark that “it was a little bit like a for-profit company, my family, in that you were pretty much only as good as your last sales quarter.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Pale King by David Foster Wallace, 2011
Family performance is compared to a corporate sales model, implying value is measured by recent achievements.
In simple terms: Family is judged like a business.
Key Takeaway
Value people beyond recent successes.
Themes
family dynamics
performance pressure
capitalism
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- career advice
- family therapy
- personal development
Key Concepts
evaluation metrics
social comparison
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this view affect family relationships?
- What alternative values can families adopt?
A Different Perspective
Not all families measure worth by productivity; love matters.
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