Thorstein Veblen
American · 1857–1929
American economist and sociologist, known for his critique of consumer culture and his concepts of conspicuous consumption and the leisure class.
Wikipedia ↗“Conspicuous consumption of valuable goods is a means of reputability to the gentleman of leisure.”
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“In order to gain and to hold the esteem of men it is not sufficient merely to possess wealth or power. The wealth or power must be put in evidence, for esteem is awarded only on evidence.”
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“The basis on which good repute in any highly organized industrial community ultimately rests is pecuniary strength; and the means of showing pecuniary strength, and so of gaining or retaining a good name, are leisure and a conspicuous consumption of goods.”
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“The habit of distinguishing and classifying the various purposes and directions of activity prevails of necessity always and everywhere; for it is indispensable in reaching a working theory or scheme of life.”
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“The outcome of any serious research can only be to make two questions grow where only one grew before.”
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“Invention is the mother of necessity.”
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“All business sagacity reduces itself in the last analysis to a judicious use of sabotage.”
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