BrainyQuote Logo
Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Definition of Ethos

Ethos

  1. The character, sentiment, or disposition of a community or people, considered as a natural endowment; the spirit which actuates manners and customs; also, the characteristic tone or genius of an institution or social organization.
  2. The traits in a work of art which express the ideal or typic character -- character as influenced by the ethos (sense 1) of a people -- rather than realistic or emotional situations or individual character in a narrow sense; -- opposed to pathos.

Ethos Quotations

'Untitled' is a time machine that can transport you to 1992, an edgy moment when the art world was crumbling, money was scarce, and artists like Tiravanija were in the nascent stages of combining Happenings, performance art, John Cage, Joseph Beuys, and the do-it-yourself ethos of punk. Meanwhile, a new art world was coming into being.
Jerry Saltz

I like to call the ethos I grew up with 'Oklahoma values.' But you'd be just as accurate if you said 'American values.' Except for our lack of a seacoast, Oklahoma has a little bit of just about everything that's American.
J. C. Watts

This is the first generation to grow up on Thatcher - it's a different ethos. It's money minded, and it's the cult of yourself. Now that's fine, except when it falls down, and you can't achieve your goals - through high unemployment, through the fact that you probably need inherited money to get anywhere.
Jane Campion

What I do deny is that you can build any enduring society without some such mystical ethos.
Herbert Read

The satiric ethos of Mad was a much bigger childhood influence.
Alison Bechdel
More "Ethos" Quotations

Ethos Translations

ethos in Dutch is stemming, sfeer
ethos in Finnish is ilmapiiri
ethos in French is ambiance
ethos in Italian is atmosfera

Share with your Friends

Everyone likes a good quote - don't forget to share.