The Rise of Quantity Culture

We are living in the 21st century—a time where we all know the cost of living in a generation that values quantity more than quality. These days, it feels like people only care about how much, not how well. Somewhere along the way, in this habit of counting everything, we’ve forgotten to look at the actual worth of things.

And this isn’t just happening in one area of life. It’s everywhere we go and in everything we do—whether it’s our jobs, the houses we live in, the content we see on social media, the work we do in the office, the money we earn, the clothes we wear, or even the food we eat. Everywhere, it’s quantity over quality.

But we don’t really stop to ask ourselves: Is this even relevant? Is it something that will last in the long run? Is it actually good for us?

Is it good for our society? For our environment?

We’ve forgotten about the price we’re already paying—or may end up paying in the future. And while chasing more might feel exciting in the moment, we need to ask—at what cost? Image Credit: Chandradas Balan

Quantity vs. Quality: A Thought We Still Haven’t Answered

This question has been circling around society for ages — and yet, no one seems to have found a clear answer. Maybe there isn’t one. Maybe it’s something we all just need to pause and truly think about.

In today’s world, it feels like quantity has taken the front seat. We see it everywhere: "post more to be seen," "do more to get noticed," "multitask to stay ahead." The more you produce, the more credit you get. You're celebrated not necessarily for how well you do something, but for how much you seem to be doing. And in that race, those who focus on doing one thing — but doing it really well — are often overlooked. People assume it's easier to excel at one task than to juggle many. But that’s where the real misunderstanding lies. In truth, the quality of work speaks louder than the number of tasks completed. Yet, it’s often drowned in the noise of “more.” Somewhere along the way, we’ve forgotten that what truly lasts, what truly matters, is quality — not quantity.

It has become the quiet struggle of so many — especially those of us who choose to focus on quality over quantity. Society often claims to value quality, but when you look closely, it doesn’t always act that way. From childhood, we are taught to produce more, do more, achieve more. This obsession with mass production — whether of content, products, or achievements — pushes us into a world where numbers matter more than meaning.

But here’s the harsh truth: quantity may bring temporary recognition, but it’s quality that leaves a lasting impression. Mass production, without intention or care, only increases waste — wasted content, wasted resources, wasted energy. What isn’t created with heart or thought often ends up unused, forgotten, or discarded.

The same applies to content. The digital world is overloaded with posts and performances — yet so little of it stays with us.

Image credit: Photo 11

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Real Life Incident of Mine:

This mindset is fed to children early. We're taught to follow the crowd, not carve our own path. I know this, because it happened to me, too.

Let me share a personal story.

It was Teacher’s Day. I was in class 9, and our batch was given the responsibility of decorating the school auditorium. This time, my friends and I were leading the team. We decided to break away from the old style — instead of just using balloons and ribbons, we wanted to create something warm and memorable. Image Credit: Rishabh Mathew

Our plan was simple: use a lot of warm lights and minimal decorations like ribbons and balloons only as background fillers. All of it was budget-friendly, thoughtful, and fresh.

To give you some context: the previous year’s decoration, done purely with balloons and ribbons, had been called the best in 10 years. And this year, because of the change in approach and aesthetic, our design had a real chance of winning that title.

But not everyone was happy about it.

Our seniors — just one year above us — didn’t want their “best of the decade” title to be replaced so soon. So they did everything they could to sabotage us. Our budget was reduced.

Decorations were stolen. Ribbons were torn. Yes, all of it was done by the very people who once stood in our place.

Why? Because they couldn't bear to let go of the number. The fact that someone else could be remembered next shook them.

They forgot the joy they once had when they received that title. They wanted more. More years. More praise. More memory.

But even though they tried their best to pull us down, we didn't give in. We worked within the limitations, and the result? We were held up with the same title — best decoration of the decade.

Image Credit: Andy Holmes

And though we only officially held that title for a year, our work echoed longer. Juniors would come to us for advice even two to three years later, because what we created wasn't just decoration — it was dignity, innovation, and quality. It left a mark. A quiet one, but strong.

Choose your Noise Wisely!

That’s the power of doing one thing well. That’s the kind of impact that quantity alone can’t deliver.

So the next time you feel like you’re falling behind just because you’re not producing more — pause. You might just be doing the one thing that will be remembered longer than the noise ever could.

After all, as the saying goes:

Old newspapers are sold at garbage rate.

Because they were once many, but never made to last.