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Thorstein Veblen -
The Theory of the Leisure Class (1899)
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The latter-day outcome of this evolution of an archaic institution, the wife, who was at the outset the drudge and chattel of the man... has become the ceremonial consumer of goods which he produces. But she still quite unmistakably remains his chattel in theory; for the habitual rendering of vicarious leisure and consumption is the abiding mark of the unfree servant.
Thorstein Veblen
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It frequently happens that an element of the standard of living which set out with being primarily wasteful, ends with becoming, in the apprehension of the consumer, a necessary of life.
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The domestic life of most classes is relatively shabby, as compared with the éclat of that overt portion of their life that is carried on before the eyes of observers.
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In the priestly life of all anthropomorphic cults the marks of a vicarious consumption of time are visible.
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However widely, or equally, or "fairly", it may be distributed, no general increase of the community's wealth can make any approach to satiating this need, the ground of which is the desire of every one to excel every one else in the accumulation of goods.
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The walking-stick serves the purpose of an advertisement that the bearer's hands are employed otherwise than in useful effort, and it therefore has utility as an evidence of leisure. But it is also a weapon and it meets a felt need of barbarian man on that ground.
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Loud dress becomes offensive to people of taste, as evincing an undue desire to reach and impress the untrained sensibilities of the vulgar.
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It is much more difficult to recede from a scale of expenditure once adopted than it is to extend the accustomed scale in response to an accession of wealth.
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A standard of living is of the nature of habit.... it acts almost solely to prevent recession from a scale of conspicuous expenditure that has once become habitual.
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Whatever approves itself to us on any ground at the outset, presently comes to appeal to us as a gratifying thing in itself; it comes to rest in our habits of thought as substantially right.
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All ritual has a notable tendency to reduce itself to a rehearsal of formulas.
Thorstein Veblen
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Quote of the day
Chaos is a name for any order that produces confusion in our minds.
George Santayana
Thorstein Veblen
Creative Commons
Born:
July 30, 1857
Died:
August 3, 1929
(aged 72)
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