The outcome of any serious research can only be to make two questions grow where only one grew before.
Thorstein VeblenRead
The visible imperfections of hand-wrought goods, being honorific, are accounted marks of superiority in point of beauty, or serviceability, or both.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Imperfections in handmade items add character and beauty, enhancing their value.
Thorstein Veblen suggests that the flaws inherent in handmade goods distinguish them from mass-produced items, elevating their beauty and functionality. This perspective honors the craftsmanship involved, as imperfections reveal authenticity and human effort, ultimately making these items more desirable.
Themes
ImperfectionsBeautyCraftsmanshipHandmadeAuthenticity
In practice
Example use cases
In an art gallery discussing the value of handmade pottery.
More from Thorstein Veblen
All quotes →Conspicuous 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
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.
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
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