John Kenneth Galbraith Quotes

A Rolex watch or an expensive car are the things guys often use to show status, wealth, and basic desirability.

Conspicuous consumption of valuable goods is a means of reputability to the gentleman of leisure.

With the greater part of rich people, the chief enjoyment of riches consists in the parade of riches.

I am quite amazed how, when people earn lots of money, they think they have to spend it on things that give them access to the club constituted by the people who are in their tax bracket.

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.

In Europe, you would almost never have people with large amounts of income being happy with a two-volume vehicle like a hatchback or a minivan. They want to structurally show their societal position, which is why three volumes are so popular. They show 'I'm part of that hierarchy.'

Without money honor is merely a disease.

There's nothing - I've bought everything I want. I don't like yachts or anything; you know, I'm not a yacht person, and I've got pretty much the nicest plane I'd want to have.

The possession of wealth confers honor; it is an invidious distinction.

People who have car collections - I never understood that. I always thought that was unnecessary. It's not beautiful, it's not creative. It's just showing how much money you've got.

Hip-hop deals with bragging and braggadocio, being boastful. It's always been about who's got the most money.

I'd definitely rather be rich than famous.

A good reputation is more valuable than money.

I always say to my people, 'If you don't sell a Ferrari to a football player, you make a big present to me.' Really. Because they buy to just show off. I don't like.

Affluence means influence.

I don't care what anyone says. Being rich is a good thing.

Prestige is the shadow of money and power.

I think it's fun to look at people with big diamonds. I see them in my audience all the time, with the fur coat, a woman whose hand is always out front, or the two fingers are on the cheek to show her diamond. I don't have anything against that.

Horses and horsepower alike are about status and being cool.

At some point, extra incomes don't go to sate desires but to attempt to buy status through 'positional goods' - like the hottest car on the block. The problem is that there can only be one hottest car on the block.

Human nature doesn't change. When enough people are comfortable enough financially, there is going to be human nature that wants to spend more money on better quality and, to some degree, status symbols as well.

Money is power, and you ought to be reasonably ambitious to have it.

There are two things that are fundamental—money and power, and I don’t care much about money

Wars are popular. Contractors make profits; the aristocracy glean honour.

He that is rich will not be called a fool.