Home / Quotes / Quote by Brennan Manning

Quote by Brennan Manning

“The conversation of most middle-class Americans, we are told, revolves around consumption: what to buy, what was just bought, where to eat, the price of the neighbor's house, what's on sale this week, our clothes or someone else's, the best car on the market this year, where to spend a vacation. Apparently we can't stop eating, shopping, or consuming. Success is measured not in terms of love, wisdom, and maturity but by the size of one's pile of possessions.”

Quote by Brennan Manning

Book:The Signature of Jesus

Work

The Signature of Jesus

This book delves into the religious significance of Jesus Christ, examining his life, miracles, and the impact of his teachings on Christianity. more

Author

Brennan Manning

Brennan Manning was a renowned author known for his profound spiritual writings and unique insights into Christian faith. His works have touched many hearts and inspired deep reflection on faith. more

You May Also Like

“The cultural propaganda embodied in two liquor advertisements, "Living well is the best revenge" and "Sip it with arrogance," have a curious, perhaps demonic appeal. Consumerism indeed has its own spirituality.”

Wells Two Spirituality Revenge Curious Appeals Propaganda Arrogance Consumerism Liquor Advertisements Overconsumption Live Well Demonic Best Revenge

Author:Brennan Manning

“The economy is still substantially that of the fur trade, still based on the same general kinds of commercial items: technology, weapons, ornaments, novelties, and drugs. The one great difference is that by now the revolution has deprived the mass of consumers of any independent access to the staples of life: clothing, shelter, food, even water. Air access remains the only necessity that the average user can still get for himself, and the revolution has imposed a heavy tax on that by way of pollution. Commercial conquest is far more thorough and final than military defeat.”

Source: The Unsettling of America: Culture & Agriculture

“The gospel preached during every television show is 'You only go around once in life, so get all the gusto you can.' It is a statement about theology; it is a statement about beer. It's lousy beer and even worse theology.”

Shows Television Theology Statements Beer Consumerism Television Shows Overconsumption Gusto

Author:John Silber

“The hopes of the Republic cannot forever tolerate either undeserved poverty or self-serving wealth.”

Self Wealth Poverty Forever Serving Republic Tolerate Consumerism Overconsumption Self Serving

Book:The Essential Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Source: The Essential Franklin Delano Roosevelt

“The horseman serves the horse, The neat-herd serves the neat, The merchant serves the purse, The eater serves his meat; 'Tis the day of the chattel, Web to weave, and corn to grind, Things are in the saddle, And ride mankind.”

Mankind Horse Meat Consumerism Corn Neat Herds Grind Purses Merchants Overconsumption Saddles Horsemen

Author:Ralph Waldo Emerson

“The idea is the least labor and capital and resources you put together and the more you accumulate the better capitalist you are. So the suggestion I will make to you is that the idea of constant accumulation, which is what America is about, what consumerism, NAFTA are about, means that you always take more than you need and you don't leave the rest. So I suggest that it is possible from an indigenous world view that capitalism is inherently out of order with natural law.”

“The most outstanding characteristic of Eastern civilization is to know contentment, whereas that of Western civilization is not to know contentment. Contented Easterners are satisfied with their simple life and therefore do not seek to increase their material enjoyment... They are satisfied with their present lot and environment and therefore do not want to conquer nature but merely be at home with nature and at peace with their lot.”

“The people who have more money and goods than any people in the history of the world spend most of their time worrying about not having enough.”

People World Enough Worry Goods More Money Consumerism World History Overconsumption

Book:The call to conversion

Source: The call to conversion

“The possessions God allows us to have are intended for our use, not our enjoyment. Trying to squeeze something out of them that was never in them in the first place is a futile endeavor. A cow's udders, gently pressed, will yield sweet milk, nourishing and refreshing. Applying more and more pressure will not produce greater quantities of milk. We lose the good of material things by expecting too much from them. Those who try hardest to please themselves with earthly goods find the least satisfaction in them.”

Source: Daily Readings from The Christian in Complete Armour: Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare

“The reality is that our economy now consists of driving 250 million vehicles around the suburbs and malls and eating fried chicken. We don't manufacture much. We just burn up ever scarcer petroleum in the ever-expanding suburbs built with mortgage money lent to people who haven't a clue.”

Source: Deer Hunting with Jesus: Dispatches from America's Class War