Corporations Quote by C. S. Lewis
“The real Oxford is a close corporation of jolly, untidy, lazy, good-for-nothing humorous old men, who have been electing their own successors ever since the world began and who intend to go on with it. They'll squeeze under the Revolution or leap over it when the time comes, don't you worry.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Real Oxford", 1935
Oxford is humorously depicted as a self‑perpetuating, lazy, and jolly institution that resists change yet endures.
In simple terms: Oxford is a quirky, enduring community.
Key Takeaway
Respect tradition while adapting.
Themes
education
tradition
humor
Mood
wry
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- University governance
- academic culture
- historical analysis
- organizational change
Key Concepts
Institutional inertia
social continuity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does tradition shape progress?
- What role does humor play in institutional critique?
A Different Perspective
May romanticize stagnation over reform.
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