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.

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.

In point of substantial merit the law school belongs in the modern university no more than a school of fencing or dancing.

Conspicuous consumption of valuable goods is a means of reputability to the gentleman of leisure.

It is always sound business to take any obtainable net gain, at any cost, and at any risk to the rest of the community.

There are few things that so touch us with instinctive revulsion as a breach of decorum.

Only individuals with an aberrant temperament can in the long run retain their self-esteem in the face of the disesteem of their fellows.