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Mencken on Veblen: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/53538/53538-h/53538-h.htm#Page_59 http://www.gutenberg.org/files/53538/53538-h/53538-h.htm#Pag...

• zeteo 9y ago
  It's an amusing read, but he freely admits that he doesn't get Veblen and that is correct: > Do I prefer terrapin à la Maryland to fried liver because plow-hands must put up with the liver—or because the terrapin is intrinsically a more charming dose? This misses out Veblen's central argument in "The Theory". The terrapin is not intrinsically a more charming dose; in fact, many "uncultured" people would instinctively recoil at eating turtles. Same for other luxuries like lobster (a century ago, lobster was only fit for servants, and then no more than twice a week [1]). Ironically, fried fois gras is probably nowadays a more elevated dish than terrapin. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobster#History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobster#History