Economy was always 'elegant', and money-spending always 'vulgar and ostentatious'; a sort of sour-grapeism, which made us very peaceful and satisfied.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Calling spending vulgar makes poverty seem elegant to soothe pride.
- In plain terms
- We say money is vulgar to feel better about having little.
- What can you take from it?
- Moralizing wealth can mask economic insecurity.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why do we label some wealth vulgar?
- How does class shape values?
Another view
Ostentatious spending can genuinely be wasteful or harmful.
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