We are again confronted with one of the most vexing aspects of advanced industrial civilization: the rational character of its irrationality. Its productivity and efficiency, its capacity to increase and spread comforts, to turn waste into need, and destruction into construction, the extent to which this civilization transforms the object world into an extension of man’s mind and body, makes the very notion of alienation questionable. The people recognize themselves in their commodities; they find their soul in their automobile, hi-fi set, split-level home, kitchen equipment. The very mechanism which ties the individual to his society has changed, and social control is anchored in the new needs which it has produced.

— Herbert Marcuse, One-Dimensional Man

The limitations we impose on ourselves by restricting information are far greater than any advantage others could gain.

— George Dyson, Turing’s Cathedral

…most advertising is immoral because most of it is sophistry, sophistry is generally wrong, and the circumstances of the production of this sophistry are unexceptional.

— Anja Publications, Philosophy Now

…it’s still much better to have billions of chronically annoyed customers than millions of happy ones.

— Neal Stephenson, In the Beginning…Was the Command Line

Every age, every culture, every custom and tradition has its own character, its own weakness and its own strength, its beauties and ugliness; accepts certain sufferings as matters of course, puts up patiently with certain evils. Human life is reduced to real suffering, to hell, only when two ages, two cultures and religions overlap.

— Hermann Hesse, Steppenwolf