Advertising expresses a power relationship. . . One person, the advertiser, invades; millions absorb. And to what end? So that people will buy something! A deep, profound and disturbing act by the few against the many for a trivial purpose.

— Jerry Mander

Advertising is 85% confusion and 15% commission.

— Fred Allen

Advertising is far more than just a communications industry. It's a problem-solving industry that also teaches you about life, how it encourages you to focus your thinking and produce something of genuine value. Why? Because that will make the advertising task so much easier. You're not equipped with a unique set of insights and experiences across a broad range of markets, allowing you to bring clarity and inspiration to anything you wish to produce.

— John Hegarty

Advertising is legalized lying.

— H. G. Wells

Advertising is the most fun you can have with your clothes on.

— Jerry Delia Femina

Advertising is the price you pay for having unremarkable product or service

— John Edson

Advertising is what you do when you can't go to see somebody. That's all it is.

— Fairfax Cone

Advertising may be described as the science of arresting the human intelligence long enough to get money from it.

— Stephen Leacock

Advertising produces familiarity which produces sales

— Paul Cookson

Advertising teaches people not to trust their judgment. Advertising teaches people to be stupid.

— Carl Sagan