"Pleasure becomes a value, a teleological end in itself. It's probably more Western than U.S. per se"
- David Foster Wallace
About this Quote
In this quote, author David Foster Wallace is talking about the idea of satisfaction and how it is often seen as a valuable goal in and of itself. He recommends that this idea is more common in Western cultures, instead of specifying to the United States. This could be analyzed as a commentary on the consumerist and individualistic nature of Western societies, where the pursuit of satisfaction and individual fulfillment is often prioritized over other worths. By mentioning that this concept is "more Western," Wallace might be implying that it is not always a universal or inherent human desire, however rather a cultural construct.
About the Author