Government Quote by Wyndham Lewis
“The ideas of a time are like the clothes of a season: they are as arbitrary, as much imposed by some superior will which is seldom explicit. They are utilitarian and political, the instruments of smooth-running government.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Art of Being Written, 1928
Ideas reflect their era’s constraints and are shaped by hidden powers.
In simple terms: Ideas are era‑bound and influenced.
Question the forces shaping ideas.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- political analysis
- media criticism
- academic research
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Who benefits from prevailing ideas?
- How can we uncover hidden influences?
Ideas may be more flexible than suggested.