Compare with such a one the common rabble of mankind…
““Compare with such a one the common rabble of mankind, stupid and mean-spirited, servile, instable, and continually floating with the tempest of various passions, that tosses and tumbles them to and fro, and all depending upon others, and you will find a greater distance than betwixt heaven and earth; and yet the blindness of common usage is such that we make little or no account of it; whereas if we consider a peasant and a king, a nobleman and a vassal, a magistrate and a private man, a rich man and a poor, there appears a vast disparity, though they differ no more, as a man may say, than in their breeches.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Human societies contain vast inequalities, yet people often ignore them, focusing on trivial differences.
In simple terms: People overlook big social gaps, fixating on small distinctions.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and address systemic disparities.
Themes
inequality
human nature
social perception
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- policy making
- education reform
- community dialogue
Key Concepts
class disparity
social blindness
human folly
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you confront unnoticed social gaps?
- What steps can reduce class blindness?
A Different Perspective
Addressing inequality can be resisted by entrenched interests.