David Riesman

"The other-directed person is exquisitely attuned to the nuances of peer expectations."

"Population changes drive the development of new character types and social structures."

"The inner-directed person may be lonely, but they are authentic."

"In abundance, we lose the compass that scarcity once provided."

"The social character changes as the economic base of society transforms."

"We are all engaged in a perpetual act of reading others' reactions."

"Modern anxiety stems from our dependence on others' approval."

"The gyroscope of tradition has been replaced by the radar of peer approval."

"Autonomy in modern society requires conscious effort and deliberate choice."

"The lonely crowd is characterized by its preoccupation with fitting in."

"We have exchanged the tyranny of parents for the tyranny of peers."

"Character development is now reactive rather than proactive."

"The inner voice has been silenced by the external chorus of approval."

"Modern society selects for adaptability over authenticity."

"The person who stands apart is increasingly viewed with suspicion."

"We mistake popularity for worth and applause for achievement."

"The tradition of individual conscience has given way to collective opinion."

"In seeking to please everyone, we please no one, least of all ourselves."

"The multiplicity of possible selves creates anxiety about which to choose."

"Modern man is haunted by the question: what do others think of me?"

"Conformity is not a law but a preference, yet its force is immense."

"The art of living in modern times is the art of reading invisible signals."

"We have become consumers of opinions as much as of goods."

"The inner-directed person is an increasingly rare species in modern society."

"The pressure to be liked has become more powerful than the pressure to succeed."

"Traditions provided certainty; peers provide only ambiguity."

"The modern person is a work in progress, constantly revised by feedback."

"We have exchanged moral authority for social authority."

"The radar in our heads is our prison and our means of navigation."

"Authenticity becomes a luxury in a world that rewards adaptation."