[We are] persuaded to spend money we don’t have on things we don’t need to create impressions that won’t last on people we don’t care about.

Source: "An Economic Reality Check." TEDGlobal 2010. Jul. 2010. Conference Presentation. Additional Information: In this quote, economist Tim Jackson is stating that our society encourages us to buy unnecessary things that we can't afford in order to impress people who we don't even like, and who are only momentarily impressed. This insecure, consumption-based behavior, explains Jackson in the TED Talk this quote is from, perpetuates an unhealthy economic system that contributes to climate change and economic crises. Watch the full TED Talk here: Tim Jackson - An Economic Reality Check