People use one another for many different reasons, but where does help end and using someone begin? These Using People Quotes take us into different stories about power, success, money, art, and relationships.
From politics to business and personal life, each author shares a different view. Their words make us stop and think about how we treat people and why we sometimes choose to use them.
1.“The idea of the Overton Window of using people on the political fringe to change the terms of acceptable debate, that’s an idea that’s been hugely influential in conservative politics since Joseph P. Overton thought it up, making radical ideas seem acceptable by advocating for the unthinkable.”
— Rachel Maddow
Author: Rachel Maddow is an American television host, political commentator, and author known for her work in political journalism and commentary.
🎬 Context of the Quote: Maddow discusses the Overton Window, a concept describing how ideas once considered unacceptable can gradually become part of mainstream political discussion.
2.“The era of using people as production tools is coming to an end. Participation is infinitely more complex to practice than conventional corporate unilateralism, just as democracy is much more cumbersome than dictatorship. But there will be few companies that can afford to ignore either of them.”
— Ricardo Semler
Author: Ricardo Semler is a Brazilian businessman and author known for his unconventional approach to workplace management and employee participation.
🎬 Context of the Quote: This quote reflects Semler’s belief that companies should move away from treating employees simply as tools of production and instead give them greater participation and responsibility.
3. “That’s what YouTube’s become, it’s become like a lot of vloggers capitalizing on this sort of like ‘My fans, I love my fans, hey guys.’ I’ve grown up and kind of been disgusted by that. I think it’s using people, I think it’s like encouraging something that’s unhealthy, telling people you love them.”
— Bo Burnham
Author: Bo Burnham is an American comedian, musician, actor, filmmaker, and writer known for his satirical commentary on entertainment and internet culture.
🎬 Context of the Quote: Burnham is criticizing aspects of online fame and influencer culture, particularly the way creators can develop emotional relationships with audiences for entertainment or commercial purposes.
4.“Making art is dealing with people on your own terms. The ideal way of using people is using them like clay, but that being out of the question, except for lunatics and leaders, art is a good alternative.”
— Lucas Samaras
Author: Lucas Samaras was a Greek-American artist known for experimental sculptures, installations, photography, and conceptual art.
🎬 Context of the Quote: Samaras uses the idea of “using people like clay” metaphorically to describe how artists transform human experiences and relationships into creative expression.
5. “How do you stand out as a fashion ad campaign? By using people off the street it does generate buzz.”
— Alber Elbaz
Author: Alber Elbaz was an Israeli-American fashion designer best known for his work as creative director of the French fashion house Lanvin.
🎬 Context of the Quote: Elbaz highlights the value of using ordinary people in fashion campaigns, suggesting that authentic and unexpected casting can attract attention and create public interest.
6.“Walter had never liked cats. They’d seemed to him the sociopaths of the pet world, a species domesticated as an evil necessary for the control of rodents and subsequently fetishized the way unhappy countries fetishize their militaries.”
— Jonathan Franzen
Author: Jonathan Franzen is an American novelist and essayist known for literary fiction exploring family, society, relationships, and modern culture.
🎬 Context of the Quote: This passage uses humor and exaggerated comparison to portray Walter’s negative attitude toward cats while illustrating Franzen’s satirical approach to character and society.
7.“There is nothing wrong in using people. The success never uses people except to their advantage.”
— Mark Cane
Author: Mark Cane is credited with statements about success, human behavior, and personal advancement.
🎬 Context of the Quote: The quote presents a cynical perspective on relationships and success, suggesting that successful people may recognize how to benefit from their interactions with others.
8.“The really good thing about using people who are really green is that you don’t have to erase a bunch of bad habits and then put good ones in. You can just start feeding them good habits.”
— Mel Gibson
Author: Mel Gibson is an American actor, filmmaker, and producer known for his work in films such as Braveheart and The Passion of the Christ.
🎬 Context of the Quote: Gibson is referring to inexperienced performers or workers. He suggests that newcomers can sometimes be easier to train because they have not yet developed established habits.
9. “The Bible teaches that we are to love people and use money, but we often get that reversed and you start loving money and using people to get more money. Money is simply a tool to be used for good.”
— Rick Warren
Author: Rick Warren is an American Christian pastor and author best known for The Purpose Driven Life and his work at Saddleback Church.
🎬 Context of the Quote: Warren contrasts healthy and unhealthy priorities, emphasizing the Christian teaching that people should be valued while money should remain a tool rather than the primary goal.
Conclusion
These quotes show how power, money, success, and personal goals can affect the way we treat others. Some authors warn against taking advantage of people, while others explain how people are used in work, art, and society. In the end, they remind us that respect, honesty, and kindness matter more than personal gain.
