Better Things for Better Living . . . Through Chemistry.

“Better Things for Better Living . . . Through Chemistry.” is best known as a corporate advertising slogan rather than a literary aphorism. It was adopted and widely promoted by the DuPont Company in the mid-20th century, appearing in print ads, corporate films, and other public-relations materials during a period when large chemical firms sought to associate industrial chemistry with postwar consumer prosperity (synthetic fibers, plastics, agricultural chemicals, and household products). The line reflects an era of optimistic “better living” messaging, while also functioning as reputation management for an industry increasingly scrutinized for environmental and health impacts.

The slogan frames chemistry as an engine of progress: scientific innovation is presented as the direct route to improved everyday life (“better things” leading to “better living”). Its persuasive force comes from compressing a complex industrial system into a simple causal promise—chemistry yields tangible benefits. At the same time, the phrasing is programmatic and promotional, inviting trust in technological solutions and in the institutions that produce them. Read historically, it exemplifies mid-century faith in modern science and consumer abundance, while later audiences may hear an unintended irony given subsequent debates over pollution, toxicity, and the social costs of chemical manufacture.

“Better Living Through Chemistry.”
“Better Things for Better Living—Through Chemistry.”
“Better Things for Better Living Through Chemistry” (often without the ellipsis).