My riches consist not in the extent of my possessions, but in the fewness of my wants.

My riches consist not in the extent of my possessions, but in the fewness of my wants.

Gifts, believe me, captivate both men and Gods, Jupiter himself was won over and appeased by gifts.

Gifts, believe me, captivate both men and Gods, Jupiter himself was won over and appeased by gifts.

It is impossible to understand the history of economic thought if one does not pay attention to the fact that read more

It is impossible to understand the history of economic thought if one does not pay attention to the fact that economics as such is a challenge to the conceit of those in power.

If you do it right 51 percent of the time you will end up a hero.

If you do it right 51 percent of the time you will end up a hero.

What the customer demands is last year's model, cheaper. To find out what the customer needs you have to understand read more

What the customer demands is last year's model, cheaper. To find out what the customer needs you have to understand what the customer is doing as well as he understands it. Then you build what he needs and you educate him to the fact that he needs it.

The rich adopt novelties and become accustomed to their use. This sets a fashion which others imitate. Once the richer read more

The rich adopt novelties and become accustomed to their use. This sets a fashion which others imitate. Once the richer classes have adopted a certain way of living, producers have an incentive to improve the methods of manufacture so that soon it is possible for the poorer classes to follow suit. Thus luxury furthers progress. Innovation "is the whim of an elite before it becomes a need of the public. The luxury today is the necessity of tomorrow." Luxury is the roadmaker of progress: it develops latent needs and makes people discontented. In so far as they think consistently, moralists who condemn luxury must recommend the comparatively desireless existence of the wild life roaming in the woods as the ultimate ideal of civilized life.

Sudden money is going from zero to two hundred dollars a week. The rest doesn't count.

Sudden money is going from zero to two hundred dollars a week. The rest doesn't count.

The rich are different from you and me because they have more credit.

The rich are different from you and me because they have more credit.

In its famous paradox, the equation of money and excrement, psychoanalysis becomes the first science to state what common sense read more

In its famous paradox, the equation of money and excrement, psychoanalysis becomes the first science to state what common sense and the poets have long known -- that the essence of money is in its absolute worthlessness.