it was ever thus

It has always been this way; this has always been the truth. Sometimes stylized as "’twas ever thus." We should be disappointed to learn our political leaders are so deep in the pockets of corporations, but we should not be surprised. It was ever thus. ’Twas ever thus, unfortunately—the higher you are in a socioeconomic hierarchy, the more you depend on the exploitation of lower-class workers. He's rich, of course he can bankroll all these successful ventures. People with money are best positioned to make money, and 'twas ever thus.

it was ever thus (or so)

used as a humorous way of suggesting that despite claims of things having been better in the past nothing much alters. informal

1998 Bookseller Curious and surprising (to say the least) and depressing things happen. But it was ever so.