--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every period had its style: why was it…" description: "\"“Every period had its style: why was it that our period was the only one to be denied a style? By “style” was meant ornament. I said, “weep not. Behold..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bd/adolf-loos-23697_fashion_every-period-had-its-style-why-was-it-th_1072362.jpg" --- # Every period had its style: why was it that our period was… ![“Every period had its style: why was it that our period was the only one to be denied a style? By “style” was meant ornament. I said, “weep not. Behold! What makes our period so important is that it is incapable of producing new ornament. We have out-grown ornament, we have struggled through to a…” quote by Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bd/adolf-loos-23697_fashion_every-period-had-its-style-why-was-it-th_1072362.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bd/adolf-loos-23697_fashion_every-period-had-its-style-why-was-it-th_1072362.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bd/adolf-loos-23697_fashion_every-period-had-its-style-why-was-it-th_1072362.jpg) > ““Every period had its style: why was it that our period was the only one to be denied a style? By “style” was meant ornament. I said, “weep not. Behold! What makes our period so important is that it is incapable of producing new ornament. We have out-grown ornament, we have struggled through to a state without ornament. Behold, the time is at hand, fulfilment awaits us. Soon the streets of the cities will glow like white walls! Like Zion, the Holy City, the capital of heaven. It is then that fulfilment will have come.”” [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that modern architecture should abandon decorative ornament because humanity has evolved beyond it, seeking purity and spiritual fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Modern design should reject decoration, aiming for pure, unadorned forms. Key Takeaway Embrace simplicity and let function guide design. Themes architecture modernism spirituality purity Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - urban planning - building design - cultural criticism - philosophical discourse Key Concepts ornamentation functionalism aesthetic evolution Questions to Reflect On - Is ornament ever necessary for communication? - How does simplicity affect human experience? A Different Perspective Critics may argue that ornament can convey meaning and cultural identity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Modernism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modernism/) ## Related quotes > [The one you can get mad at only for a short period because you have important stuff to tell them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-one-you-can-get-mad-at-only-for-a-short-period-because-you-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't ascribe to any particular style or period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-marie-presley/i-don-t-ascribe-to-any-particular-style-or-period/) [Lisa Marie Presley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-marie-presley/) > [“I will not subscribe to the argument that ornament increases the pleasure of the life of a cultivated person, or the argument which covers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/i-will-not-subscribe-to-the-argument-that-ornament-increases-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [The connoisseur of art must be able to appreciate what is simply beautiful, but the common run of people is satisfied with ornament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-connoisseur-of-art-must-be-able-to-appreciate-what-is-simply/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The Christmas ornament you gave us was lovely! It has pride of place on our tree. Thank you so much for such a thoughtful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-christmas-ornament-you-gave-us-was-lovely-it-has-pride-of-place/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In life the best ornament is Humility, the richest is Wisdom, the strongest weapon is Patience,the best security is Faith.the best tonic is Laughter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-life-the-best-ornament-is-humility-the-richest-is-wisdom-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am a pretty, useless ornament who always believed she'd have a man to take care of her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-a-pretty-useless-ornament-who-always-believed-she-d-have-a-man/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The biggest thing I have thrown at my ex during an argument was a kitchen spoon. I missed and broke an ornament. I need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-biggest-thing-i-have-thrown-at-my-ex-during-an-argument-was-a/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Wisdom is an ornament of grace to the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/wisdom-is-an-ornament-of-grace-to-the-soul/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) > [Anyone may have diamonds: an heirloom is an ornament of quite a different kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-aston/anyone-may-have-diamonds-an-heirloom-is-an-ornament-of-quite-a/) [Elizabeth Aston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-aston/) > [Silence is an ornament for women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/silence-is-an-ornament-for-women/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Manners are the ornament of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/manners-are-the-ornament-of-action/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [“The modern architects are incorrect in their thinking. Ornament is not a crime. It is tactile, invigorating, life-sustaining, and human.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-wagner/the-modern-architects-are-incorrect-in-their-thinking-ornament-is-not/) Kristen Wagner > [So may the outward shows be least themselves; The world is still deceived with ornament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-may-the-outward-shows-be-least-themselves-the-world-is-still/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It's as if all the beauties of the world were put there like an ornament to make us forget death!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/it-s-as-if-all-the-beauties-of-the-world-were-put-there-like-an/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) ## More by Adolf Loos > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [The room has to be comfortable; the house has to look habitable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-room-has-to-be-comfortable-the-house-has-to-look-habitable/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [At the beginning of the nineteenth century we abandoned tradition, it's at that point that I intend to renew it because the present is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/at-the-beginning-of-the-nineteenth-century-we-abandoned-tradition-it/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [Does it follow that the house has nothing in common with art and is architecture not to be included in the arts? Only a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/does-it-follow-that-the-house-has-nothing-in-common-with-art-and-is/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [Lack of ornamentation is a sign of spiritual strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/lack-of-ornamentation-is-a-sign-of-spiritual-strength/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [“I will not subscribe to the argument that ornament increases the pleasure of the life of a cultivated person, or the argument which covers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/i-will-not-subscribe-to-the-argument-that-ornament-increases-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [The work of art is brought into the world without there being a need for it. The house satisfies a requirement. The work of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-work-of-art-is-brought-into-the-world-without-there-being-a-need/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [Changes in the traditional way of building are only permitted if they are an improvement. Otherwise stay with what is traditional, for truth, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/changes-in-the-traditional-way-of-building-are-only-permitted-if-they/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [Man loves everything that satisfies his comfort. He hates everything that wants to draw him out of his acquired and secured position and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/man-loves-everything-that-satisfies-his-comfort-he-hates-everything/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [If nothing were left of an extinct race but a single button, I would be able to infer, form the shape of that button,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/if-nothing-were-left-of-an-extinct-race-but-a-single-button-i-would/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [The house has to please everyone, contrary to the work of art which does not. The work is a private matter for the artist.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-please-everyone-contrary-to-the-work-of-art-which/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [The Potemkin city of which I wish to speak here is none other than our dear Vienna herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-potemkin-city-of-which-i-wish-to-speak-here-is-none-other-than/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [Tattooed men who are not behind bars are either latent criminals or degenerate aristocrats. If someone who is tattooed dies in freedom, then he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/tattooed-men-who-are-not-behind-bars-are-either-latent-criminals-or/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [I have emerged victorious from my thirty years of struggle. I have freed mankind from superfluous ornament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/i-have-emerged-victorious-from-my-thirty-years-of-struggle-i-have/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [It does not do to use it with forms whose origin is intimately bound up with a specific material simply because no technical difficulties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/it-does-not-do-to-use-it-with-forms-whose-origin-is-intimately-bound/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) [Explore all 24 Adolf Loos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) ## More Fashion quotes > [“I can either be a victim—or a winner. Fuck victimhood. I don’t wear it well; it clashes with my wardrobe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/i-can-either-be-a-victim-or-a-winner-fuck-victimhood-i-don-t-wear-it/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Personal Style comes from within. It's when the woman, her individuality and spirit come through. She uses clothes to express who she is and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-karan/personal-style-comes-from-within-it-s-when-the-woman-her/) [Donna Karan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-karan/) > [There are various orders of beauty, causing men to make fools of themselves in various styles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/there-are-various-orders-of-beauty-causing-men-to-make-fools-of/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [To me, the beauty of a quilt or a dress lies within the stitches and the thought of the person who made them. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie/to-me-the-beauty-of-a-quilt-or-a-dress-lies-within-the-stitches-and/) [Natalie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [Never in a million years would I imagine Calvin Klein flying me out to my first men's fashion show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-dallas/never-in-a-million-years-would-i-imagine-calvin-klein-flying-me-out/) [Cameron Dallas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-dallas/) > [Be neither too early in the fashion, nor too long out of it, nor too precisely in it; what custom hath civilized is become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/be-neither-too-early-in-the-fashion-nor-too-long-out-of-it-nor-too/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [No one knows whom the shoe pinches - no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sholom-aleichem/no-one-knows-whom-the-shoe-pinches-no-one/) [Sholom Aleichem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sholom-aleichem/) > [Every man must wear out at least one pair of fools shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-derr-biggers/every-man-must-wear-out-at-least-one-pair-of-fools-shoes/) [Earl Derr Biggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-derr-biggers/) > [I have always been too round to do fashion shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-klum/i-have-always-been-too-round-to-do-fashion-shows/) [Heidi Klum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-klum/) > [My friend made me a leather dress for the MTV awards. It gives you confidence, wearing something you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-deeley/my-friend-made-me-a-leather-dress-for-the-mtv-awards-it-gives-you/) [Cat Deeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-deeley/) > [I've retired my sneakers for stilettos, baby!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivica-a-fox/i-ve-retired-my-sneakers-for-stilettos-baby/) [Vivica A. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivica-a-fox/) [Browse all 19,830 Fashion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Every period had its style: why was it that our period was the only one to be denied a style? By “style” was meant ornament. I said, “weep not. Behold! What makes our period so important is that it is incapable of producing new ornament. We have out-grown ornament, we have struggled through to a state without ornament. Behold, the time is at hand, fulfilment awaits us. 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