“Under present conditions, people are preoccupied with consumer goods not because they are brainwashed but because buying is the one pleasurable activity not only permitted but actively encouraged by our rulers. The pleasure of eating an ice cream cone may be minor compared to the pleasure of meaningful, autonomous work, but the former is easily available and the latter is not. A poor family would undoubtedly rather have a decent apartment than a new TV, but since they are unlikely to get the apartment, what is to be gained by not getting the TV?” PeopleMayPleasurePoorConditionsTvsActivityEatingAvailableMeaningfulIceFormerConsumersDecentBuyingLatterGoodsRulersMinorsApartmentCreamIce CreamUnlikelyAutonomousBrainwashedConesPoor FamilyIce Cream Cones Author:Ellen Willis
“The difference between a rich man and a poor man is this--the former eats when he pleases, and the latter when he can get it.” MenDifferencesPoorRichPleaseEatingFormerLatterRich ManPoor Man Author:Walter Raleigh
“Epicureanism did inspire libertine culture in isolated sects, but Epicurus himself rejected an ethics of sensory indulgence, and he would have disowned latter-day 'Epicureanism' as a fussy, expensive, unphilosophical approach to eating and drinking.” CultureInspireApproachEatingEthicsDrinkingExpensiveLatterIsolatedRejectedIndulgenceSectsSensoryLatter DaysFussyLibertineEating And DrinkingEpicureanism Author:Catherine Wilson