the opium of the masses

the opium of the masses

That which creates a feeling of false happiness, contentment, or numbness to reality. Adapted from Karl Marx's description of organized religion. But all of this superstition is of course just the opium of the masses, designed to make you feel better about the chaos of the world and the fear of death, while remaining in service to an organization that directly benefits from your financial contributions. All of these pieces of technology, these video games, these television shows, they are all just the opium of the masses, keeping us blind and numb to the machinations of the corporations and politicians that control everything.
See also: masse, of, opium
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • opium
  • the opiate of the masses
  • the opium of the people
  • a song in (one's) heart
  • a song in your heart
  • be at peace with the world
  • contentment
  • feel a glow of contentment
  • hygge
  • be (like) a bird in a gilded cage
References in periodicals archive
But football is the opium of the masses and so common sense is the first thing to fly out of the window.
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Who are these people that think they can change for the better a game that has been the opium of the masses for over a hundred years?
Football: BLUE WATCH - Go back to the drawing board
'Karl Marx once described religion as the opium of the masses. In Britain today, alcohol is the opium of the masses.'
Binge drinking is bigger challenge than terror
Whether you consider Christianity the opium of the masses, a policy position, or one of the foundations of American identity, there's no doubting the religious right's influence on contemporary politics and popular culture.
The top five: good books about Americans and God
IF religion is the opium of the masses, then Spiritualized are the valium.
Pierce sets phasers on stun-ning; Spiritualized Que Club, Birmingham
Being the opium of the masses is the least of its evils, though that is bad enough.
PERSPECTIVE : When religion is simply beyond belief