Progress might have been all right once, but it has gone on… — Ogden Nash | Printable Wall Art

“Progress might have been all right once, but it has gone on too long.”

Words by Ogden Nash (1902-1971) — American humorous poet.

About this quote

This witty line captures a wry scepticism towards modernity. Ogden Nash suggests that while early human advancements were beneficial, the endless pursuit of change has ultimately made life more complicated rather than better. It plays on the subtle frustration many feel when technological or social developments seem to solve problems that did not exist, longing instead for a simpler time.

Ogden Nash was a celebrated twentieth-century American poet famous for his light verse and clever wordplay. This line is one of his best-known epigrams, reflecting mid-century anxiety about rapid technological advances.

People often hang this in a home office or study as a light-hearted commentary on modern work.

What you get

An instant digital download. Choose your design and size at checkout — 19 typographic designs and 8 print sizes are available for this quote.

• Print-ready PDF with fully embedded vector type — sharp at any scale
• Exact trim size, no cropping required
• Print at home, at a local print shop, or upload to an online printer
• Instant download — no physical item is shipped

Sizes available

5" x 7" · 8" x 10" · 11" x 14" · 12" x 16" · 16" x 20" · 18" x 24" · 24" x 36" · A4 (21 x 29.7 cm)

Designs available

Atelier Serif · Quiet Garamond · Studio Left · Gallery Rule · Midnight Serif · Editorial Left Serif · Modern Sans Calm · Letterpress Caps · Poster Condensed · Script Whisper · Manuscript Italic · Asymmetric Left · Minimal Unsigned · Charcoal Sans · Gallery Frame · Soft Serif Right · Statement Serif · Night Script · Tracked Caps Unsigned

Digital product. Colours may vary slightly between screens and printers. Frames and props are not included.