Baruch Spinoza Quotes

It's a law of life: the tyranny of things.

The whole idea of the pursuit of goods and possessions has completely corrupted the human experience, along with religion, which I think limits the intellect.

I felt I was owned by possessions.

In our rich consumers' civilization we spin cocoons around ourselves and get possessed by our possessions.

As human beings, we're very materialistic and have all this stuff - furs and cars and diamonds and money.

People have become shallower. They view spending, entertaining, seeking leisure and enjoying as the main objectives of their life.

A child's appetite for new toys appeal to the desire for ownership and appropriation: the appeal of toys comes to lie not in their use but in their status as possessions.

I don't like to attach myself to material things.

We live in a materialist world, and materialism appeals so strongly to humanity, no matter where.

The lust of avarice as so totally seized upon mankind that their wealth seems rather to possess them than they possess their wealth.

Sometimes it's better to look at things than own them... owning means anxiety and lots of bags to carry around.

My husband calls me 'throwy-outy' - he's horrified at how easily I dispense with things. People I won't let go of, but things, mementos from shows, I'm not particularly attached to.

I look about my house and see there are lots of lovely things in it, but I constantly buy more.

I feel the same way about clothes as I do about food. I want everything.

I have no use for eight houses, 88 cars and 500 suits. I can't eat but one steak at a time. I don't want but one woman. It's silly to have as one's sole object in life just making money, accumulating wealth.

Our life on earth is, and ought to be, material and carnal. But we have not yet learned to manage our materialism and carnality properly; they are still entangled with the desire for ownership.

The Word says, ‘Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world’ (1 John 2:15). Jesus warned, ‘Beware of covetousness: for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things which he possesses’ (Luke 12:15). Things—our possessions—can tie us down to this world. While heaven and hell prepare for war, we go shopping. Eternal values are at stake! The end of all we know is near—and we are busy playing with our toys!

You can purchase the mind of Pascal for a crown. Pleasures even cheaper are sold to those who give themselves up to them. It is only luxuries and objects of caprice that are rare and difficult to obtain; unfortunately they are the only things that touch the curiosity and taste of ordinary men.

All of us experience the sad effects of blind submission to consumerism. In the first place it represents crass materialism. At the same time it represents a radical dissatisfaction because one quickly learns that the more one possesses, the more one wants, while deeper aspirations remain unsatisfied and perhaps even stifled.

The more objects you set your heart upon, the more thorns there are to tear your peace of mind to shreds.

Earthly goods are given to be used, not to be collected.... Hoarding is idolatry.

We are the slaves of objects around us, and appear little or important according as these contract or give us room to expand.

[T]he recognition of private property has really harmed Individualism, and obscured it, by confusing a man with what he possesses. It has led Individualism entirely astray. It has made gain, not growth its aim. So that man thought that the important thing is to have, and did not know that the important thing is to be.

Making money, getting yourself status in this world is not everything at all. But it has become everything in America. That you really have to get going and keep up with the Jones'. Get a house and a car and other things. And pretty soon you're stymied. Things own you.

I think the Playboy philosophy is very, very connected to the American dream.