--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The problem is if you really believe in a…" description: "\"The problem is if you really believe in a society where those who merit to get to the top, get to the top, you’ll also, by implication … believe in a s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c8/alain-de-botton-221_believe_the-problem-is-if-you-really-believe-in_2308210.jpg" --- # The problem is if you really believe in a society where… ![“The problem is if you really believe in a society where those who merit to get to the top, get to the top, you’ll also, by implication … believe in a society where those who deserve to get to the bottom also get to the bottom and stay there.” quote by Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c8/alain-de-botton-221_believe_the-problem-is-if-you-really-believe-in_2308210.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c8/alain-de-botton-221_believe_the-problem-is-if-you-really-believe-in_2308210.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c8/alain-de-botton-221_believe_the-problem-is-if-you-really-believe-in_2308210.jpg) > “The problem is if you really believe in a society where those who merit to get to the top, get to the top, you’ll also, by implication … believe in a society where those who deserve to get to the bottom also get to the bottom and stay there.” [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If we accept meritocracy, we also accept that those who fail will remain at the bottom, reinforcing inequality. **In simple terms:** Meritocracy can trap people at the bottom. Key Takeaway Consider fairness in reward systems. Themes meritocracy inequality social justice Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - education policy - workplace promotion - public welfare - economic reform Key Concepts social stratification ethical philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance reward with support? - What safeguards prevent permanent marginalization? A Different Perspective Meritocracy may ignore structural barriers and privilege. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) ## Related quotes > [We're moving away from a credentialed society to a merit society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/we-re-moving-away-from-a-credentialed-society-to-a-merit-society/) [Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/) > [I'm so glad that we have had so many consequential rallies and parades which have now educated people and made them stand up for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kubra-sait/i-m-so-glad-that-we-have-had-so-many-consequential-rallies-and/) [Kubra Sait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kubra-sait/) > [It's not just that individuals have lost faith in the integrity of their leaders, it's that they no longer believe society's most powerful institutions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hamel/it-s-not-just-that-individuals-have-lost-faith-in-the-integrity-of/) [Gary Hamel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hamel/) > [“I don't believe society has ever grown more tolerant. It just changes targets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/i-don-t-believe-society-has-ever-grown-more-tolerant-it-just-changes/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [I don’t believe that in our society that we should have guns,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/i-don-t-believe-that-in-our-society-that-we-should-have-guns/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [People may believe that there can be a society where dissent is not permitted, but which is nonetheless not a fear society because everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/people-may-believe-that-there-can-be-a-society-where-dissent-is-not/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [“It was hard to believe that in a society of computer chips, banana chips, and anti-lock brakes, of sitcoms, Home Shopping Clubs, and pay-per-view,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lee/it-was-hard-to-believe-that-in-a-society-of-computer-chips-banana/) [Edward Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lee/) > [I have lived long enough to know what I did not at one time believe--that no society can be upheld in happiness and honor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-simon-laplace/i-have-lived-long-enough-to-know-what-i-did-not-at-one-time-believe/) [Pierre-Simon Laplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-simon-laplace/) > [I really believe our society has this propensity to punish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rosenberg/i-really-believe-our-society-has-this-propensity-to-punish/) [Susan Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rosenberg/) > [I don't believe society understands what happens when everything is available, knowable and recorded by everyone all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schmidt/i-don-t-believe-society-understands-what-happens-when-everything-is/) [Eric Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schmidt/) > [I believe that our society is merely a reflection of what is going on inside each and every one of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seal/i-believe-that-our-society-is-merely-a-reflection-of-what-is-going-on/) [Seal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seal/) > [I believe society and football are all the time together, and will come to a new harmony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-carvalhal/i-believe-society-and-football-are-all-the-time-together-and-will/) [Carlos Carvalhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-carvalhal/) > [I believe that society needs to be more open and accepting of things that are seen as 'different.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-mua/i-believe-that-society-needs-to-be-more-open-and-accepting-of-things/) [Manny MUA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-mua/) > [I believe in a society where all people do well. Not just a handful of billionaires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anderson-cooper/i-believe-in-a-society-where-all-people-do-well-not-just-a-handful-of/) [Anderson Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anderson-cooper/) > [I soon realized that a student of English literature who does not know the Bible does not understand a good deal of what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/i-soon-realized-that-a-student-of-english-literature-who-does-not/) [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) ## More by Alain de Botton > [“To be mature is, we're told, to move beyond possessiveness. Jealousy is for babies. The mature person knows that no one owns anyone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/to-be-mature-is-we-re-told-to-move-beyond-possessiveness-jealousy-is/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“He feared that by leaving her he would ruin her life - so he stayed, and did just that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/he-feared-that-by-leaving-her-he-would-ruin-her-life-so-he-stayed-and/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [You have to be quite heavily invested in someone to do them the honour of telling them you're annoyed with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/you-have-to-be-quite-heavily-invested-in-someone-to-do-them-the/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“The Anxiety of Sunday afternoon: your unlived lives and infinite possibility pressing upon the constraints of reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/the-anxiety-of-sunday-afternoon-your-unlived-lives-and-infinite/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [Those who divorce aren't necessarily the most unhappy, just those neatly able to believe their misery is caused by one other person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/those-who-divorce-aren-t-necessarily-the-most-unhappy-just-those/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“We could not be fulfilled if we weren't inauthentic some of the time—inauthentic, that is, in relation to such things as our passing desires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/we-could-not-be-fulfilled-if-we-weren-t-inauthentic-some-of-the-time/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“Insofar as we appreciate order, it is when we perceive it as being accompanied by complexity, when we feel that a variety of elements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/insofar-as-we-appreciate-order-it-is-when-we-perceive-it-as-being/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [I like the values associated with a medical family - common sense, being practical but also thoughtful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/i-like-the-values-associated-with-a-medical-family-common-sense-being/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“Anyone who urgently needs us deserves, in the true book of love, to be our friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/anyone-who-urgently-needs-us-deserves-in-the-true-book-of-love-to-be/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“We can then recognize that we invented religions to serve two central needs which continue to this day and which secular society has not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/we-can-then-recognize-that-we-invented-religions-to-serve-two-central/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“Half the ingratitude and complacency in the world down to how slowly and imperceptibly most good and bad things unfold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/half-the-ingratitude-and-complacency-in-the-world-down-to-how-slowly/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [It is perhaps when our lives are at their most problematic that we are likely to be most receptive to beautiful things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/it-is-perhaps-when-our-lives-are-at-their-most-problematic-that-we/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“Does what is praised becomes better? Does an emerald become worse if it isn't praised? And what a gold, ivory, a flower or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/does-what-is-praised-becomes-better-does-an-emerald-become-worse-if/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [The bourgeois thinkers of the eighteenth century thus turned Aristotle's formula on its head: satisfactions which the Greek philosopher had identified with leisure were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/the-bourgeois-thinkers-of-the-eighteenth-century-thus-turned/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [Reputation matters so much only because people so seldom think for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/reputation-matters-so-much-only-because-people-so-seldom-think-for/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) [Explore all 850 Alain de Botton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. 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Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The problem is if you really believe in a society where those who merit to get to the top, get to the top, you’ll also, by implication … believe in a society where those who deserve to get to the bottom also get to the bottom and stay there.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alain de Botton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/the-problem-is-if-you-really-believe-in-a-society-where-those-who/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/the-problem-is-if-you-really-believe-in-a-society-where-those-who/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c8/alain-de-botton-221_believe_the-problem-is-if-you-really-believe-in_2308210.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c8/alain-de-botton-221_believe_the-problem-is-if-you-really-believe-in_2308210.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c8/alain-de-botton-221_believe_the-problem-is-if-you-really-believe-in_2308210.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The problem is if you really believe in a society where those who merit to get to the top, get to the top…” — Alain de Botton", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alain de Botton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The problem is if you really...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/the-problem-is-if-you-really-believe-in-a-society-where-those-who/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/the-problem-is-if-you-really-believe-in-a-society-where-those-who/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```