--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The ruling ideas of each age have ever…" description: "\"The ruling ideas of each age have ever been the ideas of its ruling class.\" — Karl Marx" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/759/karl-marx-399_age_the-ruling-ideas-of-each-age-have-ever-b_2631663.jpg" --- # The ruling ideas of each age have ever been the ideas of… ![“The ruling ideas of each age have ever been the ideas of its ruling class.” quote by Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/759/karl-marx-399_age_the-ruling-ideas-of-each-age-have-ever-b_2631663.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/759/karl-marx-399_age_the-ruling-ideas-of-each-age-have-ever-b_2631663.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/759/karl-marx-399_age_the-ruling-ideas-of-each-age-have-ever-b_2631663.jpg) > “The ruling ideas of each age have ever been the ideas of its ruling class.” [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The dominant ideas of any era reflect the interests of those who hold power. **In simple terms:** Ideas reflect power structures. Key Takeaway Question power and ideology. Themes politics class ideology history power social theory Mood critical analytical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political analysis - education - media critique - policy making Key Concepts Marxism hegemony ideological state apparatus Questions to Reflect On - How do ruling class ideas shape everyday life? - Can alternative ideas gain dominance? A Different Perspective Ideas may be contested by marginalized groups. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Age Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age-ideas-742259/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Ideas Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas-age-1994711/) [Ideas Ruling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas-ruling-2195441/) [Ruling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruling/) [Ruling class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruling-class/) [Ruling Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruling-ideas-2195440/) ## Related quotes > [The ideas of the ruling class are in every epoch the ruling ideas, i.e. the class which is the ruling material force of society,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-ideas-of-the-ruling-class-are-in-every-epoch-the-ruling-ideas-i-e-2/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [The ideas of the ruling class are in every epoch the ruling ideas, i.e., the class which is the ruling material force of society,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-ideas-of-the-ruling-class-are-in-every-epoch-the-ruling-ideas-i-e/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [The more a ruling class is able to assimilate the most prominent men of a ruled class, the more solid and dangerous its rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-more-a-ruling-class-is-able-to-assimilate-the-most-prominent-men/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [All that we want to do away with is the miserable character of this appropriation, under which the labourer lives merely to increase capital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/all-that-we-want-to-do-away-with-is-the-miserable-character-of-this/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [In business, success often depends upon the relative age of your ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/in-business-success-often-depends-upon-the-relative-age-of-your-ideas/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [“She was unlike most girls of her age, in this--that she had ideas of her own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/she-was-unlike-most-girls-of-her-age-in-this-that-she-had-ideas-of/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [My poetry doesn't change from place to place - it changes with the years. It's very important to be one's age. You get ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/my-poetry-doesn-t-change-from-place-to-place-it-changes-with-the/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [To the liberal ideas of the age must be opposed the moral ideas of all ages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/to-the-liberal-ideas-of-the-age-must-be-opposed-the-moral-ideas-of/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [The ideas of an age are most abundant where they are not crowded by original ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/the-ideas-of-an-age-are-most-abundant-where-they-are-not-crowded-by/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [Not just in commerce but in the world of ideas too our age is putting on a veritable clearance sale. Everything can be had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/not-just-in-commerce-but-in-the-world-of-ideas-too-our-age-is-putting/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [Books are certainly old fashioned, but only people with a very limited perception are silly enough to condemn ideas because of their age. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-philip/books-are-certainly-old-fashioned-but-only-people-with-a-very-limited/) [Prince Philip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-philip/) > [I am running to fix the economy, restore the constitutional system of checks and balances and to end this game of crony capitalism by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brat/i-am-running-to-fix-the-economy-restore-the-constitutional-system-of/) [Dave Brat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brat/) > [David Rockefeller is the most conspicuous representative today of the ruling class, a multinational fraternity of men who shape the global economy and manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/david-rockefeller-is-the-most-conspicuous-representative-today-of-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Consequently, citizen legislators, rotating back to their communities after a short period of public service—considered an indispensable and routine characteristic and design of representative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/consequently-citizen-legislators-rotating-back-to-their-communities/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The structure of the Swiss ruling class is rock-hard, and unchanged since the time of Napoleon. They sit on their mountains and lecture the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ziegler/the-structure-of-the-swiss-ruling-class-is-rock-hard-and-unchanged/) [Jean Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ziegler/) ## More by Karl Marx > [“Economists have a singular method of procedure. There are only two kinds of institutions for them, artificial and natural. The institutions of feudalism are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/economists-have-a-singular-method-of-procedure-there-are-only-two/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [As the variable capital always stays in the hands of the capitalist in some form or other, it cannot be claimed in any way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/as-the-variable-capital-always-stays-in-the-hands-of-the-capitalist/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Money degrades all the gods of man and converts them into commodities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/money-degrades-all-the-gods-of-man-and-converts-them-into-commodities/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [As a beast of toil an ox is fixed capital. If he is eaten, he no longer functions as an instrument of labour, nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/as-a-beast-of-toil-an-ox-is-fixed-capital-if-he-is-eaten-he-no-longer/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Communism... is the genuine resolution of the antagonism between man and nature and between man and man; it is the true resolution of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/communism-is-the-genuine-resolution-of-the-antagonism-between-man-and/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [It is not the consciousness of men that determines their being, but, on the contrary, their social being that determines their consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/it-is-not-the-consciousness-of-men-that-determines-their-being-but-on/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Philosophy is to the real world as masturbation is to sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/philosophy-is-to-the-real-world-as-masturbation-is-to-sex/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [“Go on, get out! Last words are for fools who haven't said enough!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/go-on-get-out-last-words-are-for-fools-who-haven-t-said-enough/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [“If you love without evoking love in return - if through the vital expression of yourself as a loving person you fail to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/if-you-love-without-evoking-love-in-return-if-through-the-vital/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Do not be deluded by the abstract word Freedom. Whose freedom? Not the freedom of one individual in relation to another, but freedom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/do-not-be-deluded-by-the-abstract-word-freedom-whose-freedom-not-the/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [The burgeoisie, by the rapid improvement of all instruments of production, by the immensely facilitated means of communication, draws all nations into civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-burgeoisie-by-the-rapid-improvement-of-all-instruments-of/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Ideas do not exist separately from language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/ideas-do-not-exist-separately-from-language/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [So in Jewry we recognise a contemporary universal anti-social phenomenon, which has reached its present pitch through a process of, historical development in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/so-in-jewry-we-recognise-a-contemporary-universal-anti-social/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [The class struggle necessarily leads to the dictatorship of the proletariat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-class-struggle-necessarily-leads-to-the-dictatorship-of-the/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [If this labourer were in possession of his own means of production, and was satisfied to live as a labourer, he need not work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/if-this-labourer-were-in-possession-of-his-own-means-of-production/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) [Explore all 571 Karl Marx quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [When I first started writing, when I was 15, I would go to work with people and they would tell me my lyrics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/when-i-first-started-writing-when-i-was-15-i-would-go-to-work-with/) [Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [We have started to make music at age seven. That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) [Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The ruling ideas of each age have ever been the ideas of its ruling class.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Karl Marx" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-ruling-ideas-of-each-age-have-ever-been-the-ideas-of-its-ruling/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Age" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-ruling-ideas-of-each-age-have-ever-been-the-ideas-of-its-ruling/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/759/karl-marx-399_age_the-ruling-ideas-of-each-age-have-ever-b_2631663.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/759/karl-marx-399_age_the-ruling-ideas-of-each-age-have-ever-b_2631663.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/759/karl-marx-399_age_the-ruling-ideas-of-each-age-have-ever-b_2631663.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The ruling ideas of each age have ever been the ideas of its ruling class.” — Karl Marx", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Karl Marx", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The ruling ideas of each age...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-ruling-ideas-of-each-age-have-ever-been-the-ideas-of-its-ruling/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-ruling-ideas-of-each-age-have-ever-been-the-ideas-of-its-ruling/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```