The outcome of any serious research can only be to make two questions grow where only one grew before.
Thorstein VeblenRead
With the exception of the instinct of self-preservation, the propensity for emulation is probably the strongest and most alert and persistent of the economic motives proper.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights that beyond survival instincts, the desire to imitate others is a powerful economic driver.
Thorstein Veblen emphasizes the significance of emulation as a fundamental economic motive, suggesting that individuals are strongly inclined to imitate the behaviors and desires of others. This propensity for emulation surpasses all but the most basic instinct of self-preservation, driving consumers to adopt patterns that reflect societal trends and status, ultimately shaping economic behavior and market dynamics.
Themes
EmulationImitationEconomic MotivesSelf-PreservationBehavior
In practice
Example use cases
In a business presentation discussing consumer behavior, I would quote Veblen to illustrate how trends develop.
More from Thorstein Veblen
All quotes βConspicuous consumption of valuable goods is a means of reputability to the gentleman of leisure.
Thorstein VeblenRead
In order to stand well in the eyes of the community, it is necessary to come up to a certain, somewhat indefinite, conventional standard of wealth.
Thorstein VeblenRead
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.
Thorstein VeblenRead
In itself and in its consequences the life of leisure is beautiful and ennobling in all civilised men's eyes.
Thorstein VeblenRead
Born in iniquity and conceived in sin, the spirit of nationalism has never ceased to bend human institutions to the service of dissension and distress.
Thorstein VeblenRead
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