Once upon a time, French philosopher Denis Diderot was gifted a luxurious, scarlet dressing gown. Before that he wasn’t exactly living like royalty, but this gown? It was something out of this world. Soft, elegant, and way too fancy for his humble surroundings.
The moment he wrapped himself in that velvet fabric, he couldn’t help but notice how everything else in his home suddenly seemed… well, a bit shabby.
As Diderot admired his reflection in the mirror, a thought crept in: did his worn-out chair really complement this new-found glory? Soon, his home became a project of upgrades. New painting, new rug, new desk. One thing led to another, and before he knew it, half of his possessions had been replaced with more fashionable versions.
Yet, instead of basking in the glow of his new acquisitions, Diderot found himself oddly dissatisfied. The luxury that initially thrilled him now felt like a burden and made him long for the simple comfort of his old, cozy belongings. And on top of it, he ended up deep in debt.
Reflecting on this experience, Diderot wrote an essay titled “Regrets on Parting with My Old Dressing Gown.” In it, he lamented how that one fancy robe had triggered a chain reaction of spending that left him stressed and broke.
A Lesson in Materialism
This phenomenon is now known as the Diderot Effect. It reveals a deeper truth about consumerism that buying new thing can set off a domino of unnecessary spends and leave us feeling increasingly dissatisfied. It’s like when you get a new phone, and suddenly your old case, headphones, and even your bag seem out of place.
Diderot’s misadventure ties perfectly into spiritual teachings, which remind us that attachment to material things can lead to suffering. The more we have, the more we want, and that endless cycle can pull us away from contentment.
To avoid falling into the Diderot trap, try implementing a “one in, one out” rule—every time you buy something new, let go of something old.
Regularly practicing mindfulness and gratitude can also help you stay grounded and satisfied with what you already have.
So next time you’re eyeing that ‘must-have’ outfit, remember poor Diderot—the philosopher who ended up stylishly broke.