The middle class, that prisoner of the barbarian 20th century.

Meaning of the quote

The quote suggests that the middle class was trapped or confined by the harsh and uncivilized nature of the 20th century. It implies that the middle class was a victim of the difficult and challenging times they lived in, unable to fully escape the problems and challenges of the era.

About Sinclair Lewis

Sinclair Lewis was an acclaimed American novelist, short-story writer, and playwright. He was the first author from the United States to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, recognized for his vivid storytelling and memorable character creations. Several of his popular novels, such as Main Street, Babbitt, and Elmer Gantry, satirized American capitalism and materialism during the interwar period.

More about the author

More quotes from Sinclair Lewis

Intellectually I know that America is no better than any other country; emotionally I know she is better than every other country.

Sinclair Lewis

American writer and playwright (1885-1951)

Damn the great executives, the men of measured merriment, damn the men with careful smiles oh, damn their measured merriment.

Sinclair Lewis

American writer and playwright (1885-1951)

The middle class, that prisoner of the barbarian 20th century.

Sinclair Lewis

American writer and playwright (1885-1951)

Our American professors like their literature clear and cold and pure and very dead.

Sinclair Lewis

American writer and playwright (1885-1951)

People will buy anything that is ‘one to a customer.’

Sinclair Lewis

American writer and playwright (1885-1951)

Whatever poet, orator or sage may say of it, old age is still old age.

Sinclair Lewis

American writer and playwright (1885-1951)

What is love? It is the morning and the evening star.

Sinclair Lewis

American writer and playwright (1885-1951)

When audiences come to see us authors lecture, it is largely in the hope that we’ll be funnier to look at than to read.

Sinclair Lewis

American writer and playwright (1885-1951)

There are two insults no human being will endure: that he has no sense of humor, and that he has never known trouble.

Sinclair Lewis

American writer and playwright (1885-1951)

When facism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.

Sinclair Lewis

American writer and playwright (1885-1951)

He who has seen one cathedral ten times has seen something; he who has seen ten cathedrals once has seen but little; and he who has spent half an hour in each of a hundred cathedrals has seen nothing at all.

Sinclair Lewis

American writer and playwright (1885-1951)

Winter is not a season, it’s an occupation.

Sinclair Lewis

American writer and playwright (1885-1951)

Every compulsion is put upon writers to become safe, polite, obedient, and sterile.

Sinclair Lewis

American writer and playwright (1885-1951)

Advertising is a valuable economic factor because it is the cheapest way of selling goods, particularly if the goods are worthless.

Sinclair Lewis

American writer and playwright (1885-1951)

Pugnacity is a form of courage, but a very bad form.

Sinclair Lewis

American writer and playwright (1885-1951)