"A time is marked not so much by ideas that are argued about as by ideas that are taken for granted. The character of an era hangs upon what needs no defense"

This quote by Lawrence Lessig recommends that the concepts that specify an era are not always the ones that are argued about, but rather the ones that are accepted without concern. It implies that the character of a period is figured out by the ideas that are so commonly accepted that they do not require any defense. This suggests that the concepts that are considered given are the ones that have the most affect on the culture and society of a period. It likewise suggests that the concepts that are argued about are not necessarily the ones that will specify an age, as they might not be extensively accepted. This quote encourages us to consider the ideas that we take for approved and how they form our society.