“Conspicuous consumption of valuable goods is a means of reputability to the gentleman of leisure.”
英语
“对贵重商品的炫耀性消费，是有闲绅士获取声望的手段。”
“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.”
英语
“要获得并保持他人的尊重，仅仅拥有财富或权力是不够的。财富或权力必须被展示出来，因为尊重只会授予有据可查者。”
“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.”
英语
“在任何高度组织化的工业社会中，良好声誉最终依赖的基础是金钱实力；而展示金钱实力、从而获取或保持好名声的手段，就是有闲和对商品的炫耀性消费。”
“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.”
英语
“区分和归类各种活动目的与方向的习惯，必然始终且处处盛行；因为它是达成一套可行的生活理论或方案不可或缺的条件。”
“The outcome of any serious research can only be to make two questions grow where only one grew before.”
英语
“任何严肃研究的结果，只能是使原来的一个问题变成两个。”
“All business sagacity reduces itself in the last analysis to a judicious use of sabotage.”
英语
“一切商业精明，归根结底不过是对蓄意破坏的审慎运用。”