--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Drill and uniforms impose an architecture…" description: "\"Drill and uniforms impose an architecture on the crowd. An army's beautiful. But that's not all; it panders to lower instincts than the aesthetic. The ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/aldous-huxley-97_aesthetic_drill-and-uniforms-impose-an-architectur_1941345.jpg" --- # Drill and uniforms impose an architecture on the crowd. An… ![“Drill and uniforms impose an architecture on the crowd. An army's beautiful. But that's not all; it panders to lower instincts than the aesthetic. The spectacle of human beings reduced to automatism satisfies the lust for power. Looking at mechanized slaves, one fancies oneself a master.” quote by Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/aldous-huxley-97_aesthetic_drill-and-uniforms-impose-an-architectur_1941345.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/aldous-huxley-97_aesthetic_drill-and-uniforms-impose-an-architectur_1941345.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/aldous-huxley-97_aesthetic_drill-and-uniforms-impose-an-architectur_1941345.jpg) > “Drill and uniforms impose an architecture on the crowd. An army's beautiful. But that's not all; it panders to lower instincts than the aesthetic. The spectacle of human beings reduced to automatism satisfies the lust for power. Looking at mechanized slaves, one fancies oneself a master.” [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Uniforms and drills create a rigid structure that both beautifies and dehumanizes, appealing to power fantasies and reducing people to mechanized slaves. **In simple terms:** Structure can be both beautiful and dehumanizing. Key Takeaway Beware the allure of control over humanity. Themes power control dehumanization aesthetics instincts Mood dark critical reflective Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - military parades - corporate branding - political rallies - mass media propaganda Key Concepts totalitarianism psychology social critique Questions to Reflect On - How does order become oppression? - When does aesthetic become control? A Different Perspective It ignores individual agency and the potential for positive collective identity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aesthetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aesthetic/) [Architecture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/architecture/) [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) [Lust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lust/) [Lust for power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lust-for-power/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) ## Related quotes > [“In 1984 the lust for power is satisfied by inflicting pain; in Brave New World, by inflicting a hardly less humiliating pleasure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/in-1984-the-lust-for-power-is-satisfied-by-inflicting-pain-in-brave/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“Within the next generation I believe that the world’s rulers will discover that infant conditioning and narco-hypnosis are more efficient, as instruments of government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/within-the-next-generation-i-believe-that-the-world-s-rulers-will/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Within the next generation I believe that the world's leaders will discover that infant conditioning and narco-hypnosis are more efficient, as instruments of government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/within-the-next-generation-i-believe-that-the-world-s-leaders-will/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [It is only when it takes the form of physical addiction that sex is evil. 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Salvatore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-salvatore/) > [“There are six canons of conservative thought: 1) Belief in a transcendent order, or body of natural law, which rules society as well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/there-are-six-canons-of-conservative-thought-1-belief-in-a/) [Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/) > [The State acquires power... and because of its insatiable lust for power it is incapable of giving up any of it. The State never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-chodorov/the-state-acquires-power-and-because-of-its-insatiable-lust-for-power/) [Frank Chodorov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-chodorov/) > [We are living in a sex mad world. A world in which is polluted with pornography and profanity, a world of corruption and perverseness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sessah-odai-sadick/we-are-living-in-a-sex-mad-world-a-world-in-which-is-polluted-with/) [Sessah-Odai Sadick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sessah-odai-sadick/) > [“We Lannisters do have a certain pride," said Tyrion Lannister. “Pride?” Catelyn snapped. His mocking tone and easy manner made her angry. “Arrogance, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/we-lannisters-do-have-a-certain-pride-said-tyrion-lannister-pride/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“If anyone rises to power, it's not only because he could, but also because the stars were aligned in his favor. Many with apparent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/if-anyone-rises-to-power-it-s-not-only-because-he-could-but-also/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) ## More by Aldous Huxley > [“Unorthodoxy threatens more than the life of a mere individual; it strikes at Society itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/unorthodoxy-threatens-more-than-the-life-of-a-mere-individual-it/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Man has an almost infinite capacity for taking things and people for granted and thereby missing out on the pleasure of being grateful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/man-has-an-almost-infinite-capacity-for-taking-things-and-people-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [My fate cannot be mastered; it can only be collaborated with and thereby, to some extent, directed. 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Apparently, for going on walks in the Lake District; for that was what he now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/then-what-s-time-for-asked-lenina-in-some-astonishment-apparently-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [All right then," said the Savage defiantly, "I'm claiming the right to be unhappy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/all-right-then-said-the-savage-defiantly-i-m-claiming-the-right-to-be/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Speed, it seems to me, provides the one genuinely modern pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/speed-it-seems-to-me-provides-the-one-genuinely-modern-pleasure/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“What you need is a gramme of soma.” “All the advantages of Christianity and alcohol; none of their defects.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/what-you-need-is-a-gramme-of-soma-all-the-advantages-of-christianity/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [To be enlightened is to be aware, always, of total reality in its immanent otherness - to be aware of it and yet remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/to-be-enlightened-is-to-be-aware-always-of-total-reality-in-its/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“Quote of the day:Quote of the day: A democracy which makes or even effectively prepares for modern, scientific war must necessarily cease to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/quote-of-the-day-quote-of-the-day-a-democracy-which-makes-or-even/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) [Explore all 1,291 Aldous Huxley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) ## More Aesthetic quotes > [You feed yourself. 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