Linear resolutions and the stronger notion of linear quotients are important properties of monomial ideals. In this paper, we fully characterize linear quotients in terms of the lcm-lattice of monomial ideals. We also formulate an analogous characterization for monomial ideals with linear resolutions, making explicit a relationship that is implicit in the existing literature. These results complement characterizations of these two properties in terms of the Alexander dual of the corresponding Stanley-Reisner simplicial complex. In addition, we discuss applications to the case of edge ideals.