status quo = the existing state of affairs

Status quo is a term used most often when the speaker thinks that there are better ways of doing something. They want to point out that the reason people are doing things the way they are, is because they are either doing what other are or they are doing it how it has always been done. They likely have never considered an alternative. The speaker will point out these are not good reasons to continue as is.

status quo = 安于现状 You're talking about the Spartacus thing, right?

"Assults the status quo." The term "status quo" means a normal and accepted way of doing things. Saying to assult the status quo means to do something completely out of the ordinary. It means to be "revolutionary."