--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can reach a situation where things of…" description: "\"You can reach a situation where things of intelligence and refinement and culture can be considered elite, and things that are crass and ignorant can b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/115/wynton-marsalis-1721_amount_you-can-reach-a-situation-where-things-o_2120731.jpg" --- # You can reach a situation where things of intelligence and… ![“You can reach a situation where things of intelligence and refinement and culture can be considered elite, and things that are crass and ignorant can be considered to be real and of the people. And when you begin to have the mass of populus striving for something that's not worth striving for…” quote by Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/115/wynton-marsalis-1721_amount_you-can-reach-a-situation-where-things-o_2120731.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/115/wynton-marsalis-1721_amount_you-can-reach-a-situation-where-things-o_2120731.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/115/wynton-marsalis-1721_amount_you-can-reach-a-situation-where-things-o_2120731.jpg) > “You can reach a situation where things of intelligence and refinement and culture can be considered elite, and things that are crass and ignorant can be considered to be real and of the people. And when you begin to have the mass of populus striving for something that's not worth striving for, then tremendous amounts of energy go into...the maintenance of that which is worthless.” [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societies often label refined culture as elite while dismissing popular, crass culture as authentic, leading to wasted effort on trivial pursuits. **In simple terms:** Elite culture vs popular culture creates misplaced priorities. Key Takeaway Question values and focus on meaningful goals. Themes culture elitism values society misplaced effort Mood critical contemplative analytical Type observational critical When to use this quote - political discourse - media analysis - education reform - personal development Key Concepts class distinction authenticity mass culture energy allocation Questions to Reflect On - How do we discern valuable cultural contributions? - What criteria should guide societal energy allocation? A Different Perspective Not all popular trends are inherently worthless; some can inspire change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amount](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amount/) [Being real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-real/) [Considered Elite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/considered-elite-1611666/) [Crass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crass/) [Crass Ignorant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crass-ignorant-4324613/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Elite Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elite-things-4324615/) [Elites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elites/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Ignorant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorant/) [Ignorant Considered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorant-considered-4324614/) [Maintenance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maintenance/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Refinement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refinement/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Strive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strive/) [Things Crass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-crass-4324616/) [Worthless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worthless/) ## Related quotes > [Golf in India is considered an elite sport. It is not possible for everyone to play in private courses. We need to give opportunities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeev-milkha-singh/golf-in-india-is-considered-an-elite-sport-it-is-not-possible-for/) [Jeev Milkha Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeev-milkha-singh/) > [In Europe, people in the arts are considered part of the intelligentsia; they are considered part of the elite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-silver/in-europe-people-in-the-arts-are-considered-part-of-the/) [Ron Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-silver/) > [No single imagination is wild or crass or cheesy enough to compete with the collective mindlessness that propels our fascination forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-tei-yamashita/no-single-imagination-is-wild-or-crass-or-cheesy-enough-to-compete/) [Karen Tei Yamashita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-tei-yamashita/) > [It is not OK in this culture to talk to friends about causes you believe in, much less to ask them to join in.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donella-meadows/it-is-not-ok-in-this-culture-to-talk-to-friends-about-causes-you/) [Donella Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donella-meadows/) > [The Germans take quite a knock for the holocaust, but the Catholic church manages to push more people into death, disease, and degradation every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/the-germans-take-quite-a-knock-for-the-holocaust-but-the-catholic/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [Well, truth be told it was the hope on the last one, it's always the hope. It's just you don't just wasn't to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-burk/well-truth-be-told-it-was-the-hope-on-the-last-one-it-s-always-the/) [Bryan Burk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-burk/) > [The British are the only people in history crass enough to have made revolutionaries out of Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shashi-tharoor/the-british-are-the-only-people-in-history-crass-enough-to-have-made/) [Shashi Tharoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shashi-tharoor/) > [Anyway I read more contemporary poetry than contemporary fiction so my mind goes first to a kind of crass "conceptualism" that repeats vanguard gestures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lerner/anyway-i-read-more-contemporary-poetry-than-contemporary-fiction-so/) [Ben Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lerner/) > [Val, I'm on Bourbon—” “I will not venture down that street of crass iniquities and plebeian horror, Acheron. It is the cesspit of humanity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/val-i-m-on-bourbon-i-will-not-venture-down-that-street-of-crass/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [I think because of these big issues of life and death that maybe sex feels like a crass question. But for Christ sake, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/i-think-because-of-these-big-issues-of-life-and-death-that-maybe-sex/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [Killing time. Its a very crass and breezy expression when you ponder it for a moment, considering that time, after all, is killing us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher/killing-time-its-a-very-crass-and-breezy-expression-when-you-ponder/) [Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher/) > [I'm not a movie person. They're collaborations of the worst kind. You must compromise yourself to many interests that are venal and crass and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-m-not-a-movie-person-they-re-collaborations-of-the-worst-kind-you/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I need somebody to Trump-xplain(ph) this, because I don't understand it.I've heard people defend him about making fun of a disability, making fun of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/i-need-somebody-to-trump-xplain-ph-this-because-i-don-t-understand-it/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [I have a nice bookshelf in my office, but not my house. I'm crass, but not that crass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/i-have-a-nice-bookshelf-in-my-office-but-not-my-house-i-m-crass-but/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [This isn't a picture filled with wonder and a sense of fun; it's so jaded and crass that I almost wonder if it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-zacharek/this-isn-t-a-picture-filled-with-wonder-and-a-sense-of-fun-it-s-so/) [Stephanie Zacharek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-zacharek/) ## More by Wynton Marsalis > [I never minded giving my opinions. They are just opinions, and I had studied music and I had strong feelings. I was happy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/i-never-minded-giving-my-opinions-they-are-just-opinions-and-i-had/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [I always read all these books about the slaves. My mother is very educated. My father would talk to us like we were grown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/i-always-read-all-these-books-about-the-slaves-my-mother-is-very/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [“The best musicians know this music isn't about "schools" at all. Like my father says, "There's only one school, the school of 'Can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/the-best-musicians-know-this-music-isn-t-about-schools-at-all-like-my/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [Louis Armstrong is jazz. He represents what the music is all about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/louis-armstrong-is-jazz-he-represents-what-the-music-is-all-about/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [And that's the soulful thing about playing: you offer something to somebody. You don't know if they'll like it, but you offer it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/and-that-s-the-soulful-thing-about-playing-you-offer-something-to/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [Ethics are more important than laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/ethics-are-more-important-than-laws/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [I'm not a person who writes really abstract things with oblique references. I look at abstraction like I look at condiments. Give me some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/i-m-not-a-person-who-writes-really-abstract-things-with-oblique/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [Many a revolution started with the actions of a few. Only 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence. A few hanging together can lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/many-a-revolution-started-with-the-actions-of-a-few-only-56-men/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [“Today you go into make a modern recording with all this technology. The bass plays first, then the drums come in later, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/today-you-go-into-make-a-modern-recording-with-all-this-technology/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [In the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra we play such a diversity of music, with 10 arrangers in the band, we don't really worry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/in-the-jazz-at-lincoln-center-orchestra-we-play-such-a-diversity-of/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [Commercialism that has absolutely no relationship to quality whatsoever, only quantitative assessment of a thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/commercialism-that-has-absolutely-no-relationship-to-quality/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [Instead of imposing your will on every situation...focus on including everyone else, and just that little adjustment of attitude gives you the space to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/instead-of-imposing-your-will-on-every-situation-focus-on-including/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [I'm not afraid of you being yourself. That's America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/i-m-not-afraid-of-you-being-yourself-that-s-america/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [“I noticed that religion gave some people a way to escape dealing with the world: “Things will be better when you die,” the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/i-noticed-that-religion-gave-some-people-a-way-to-escape-dealing-with/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [Trumpet players see each other, and it's like we're getting ready to square off or get into a fight or something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/trumpet-players-see-each-other-and-it-s-like-we-re-getting-ready-to/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) [Explore all 213 Wynton Marsalis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) ## More Amount quotes > [Dating someone on the opposite end of the happy spectrum teaches you an incredible amount of patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/dating-someone-on-the-opposite-end-of-the-happy-spectrum-teaches-you/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [When the amount of change externally exceeds the amount of change internally, the end is in sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/when-the-amount-of-change-externally-exceeds-the-amount-of-change/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [A human being can only absorb a small amount of the mystical kundalini, you can be exposed again and again to it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-human-being-can-only-absorb-a-small-amount-of-the-mystical/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [It's a challenge to work a character's arc into a format in which you only have a very limited amount of time to grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginnifer-goodwin/it-s-a-challenge-to-work-a-character-s-arc-into-a-format-in-which-you/) [Ginnifer Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginnifer-goodwin/) > [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [The amount you give isn't important. What matters is what that amount represents in terms of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-amount-you-give-isn-t-important-what-matters-is-what-that-amount/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [There's a place in Botswana where there are 100,000 elephants living in a single population. Think of the amount of space they need. Remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-bergin/there-s-a-place-in-botswana-where-there-are-100-000-elephants-living/) [Patrick Bergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-bergin/) > [How could you justify giving Holland twice the amount of money that you gave Belgium? Well, finally, I put it up to them. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-averell-harriman/how-could-you-justify-giving-holland-twice-the-amount-of-money-that/) [W. Averell Harriman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-averell-harriman/) > [I am not a great believer in dialectical struggle. I am much more of a fusion person. I see it as a dialogue, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-warner/i-am-not-a-great-believer-in-dialectical-struggle-i-am-much-more-of-a/) [Marina Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-warner/) > [The risk of developing carcinoma of the lung increases steadily as the amount smoked increases. If the risk among non-smokers is taken as unity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-doll/the-risk-of-developing-carcinoma-of-the-lung-increases-steadily-as/) [Richard Doll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-doll/) > [Both fact and logic seem to me to support the view that savings invested in privately owned economic tools of production amount to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-harper/both-fact-and-logic-seem-to-me-to-support-the-view-that-savings/) [F. A. Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-a-harper/) > [You have a little bit of talent, a certain amount of good fortune and a lot of hard work in pursuit of whatever truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-sutherland/you-have-a-little-bit-of-talent-a-certain-amount-of-good-fortune-and/) [Donald Sutherland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-sutherland/) > [I have a tremendous amount of respect for military families. To have to worry about your loved ones and still try and live a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashanti/i-have-a-tremendous-amount-of-respect-for-military-families-to-have/) [Ashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashanti/) > [In sports teams, apart from talk of sporting prowess and the imparting of inspirational thought, an extraordinary amount of time is spent discussing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harsha-bhogle/in-sports-teams-apart-from-talk-of-sporting-prowess-and-the-imparting/) [Harsha Bhogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harsha-bhogle/) [Browse all 4,202 Amount quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amount/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can reach a situation where things of intelligence and refinement and culture can be considered elite, and things that are crass and ignorant can be considered to be real and of the people. 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