--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those who are able to climb up the ladder…" description: "\"Those who are able to climb up the ladder will find ways to pull it up after them, or selectively lower it down to allow their friends, allies, and kin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/203/chris-hayes-2208_able_those-who-are-able-to-climb-up-the-ladde_240288.jpg" --- # Those who are able to climb up the ladder will find ways… ![“Those who are able to climb up the ladder will find ways to pull it up after them, or selectively lower it down to allow their friends, allies, and kin to scramble up. In other words: 'Who says meritocracy says oligarchy.'” quote by Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/203/chris-hayes-2208_able_those-who-are-able-to-climb-up-the-ladde_240288.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/203/chris-hayes-2208_able_those-who-are-able-to-climb-up-the-ladde_240288.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/203/chris-hayes-2208_able_those-who-are-able-to-climb-up-the-ladde_240288.jpg) > “Those who are able to climb up the ladder will find ways to pull it up after them, or selectively lower it down to allow their friends, allies, and kin to scramble up. In other words: 'Who says meritocracy says oligarchy.'” [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Powerful individuals often manipulate systems to benefit themselves and their close circles, undermining true meritocracy. **In simple terms:** The powerful can rig systems for personal gain. Key Takeaway Beware of hidden agendas in elite structures. Themes power meritocracy elitism social dynamics Mood skeptical critical analytical Type commentary political When to use this quote - political leadership - corporate ladders - community advocacy Key Concepts systemic bias networking resource allocation Questions to Reflect On - How do you spot systemic favoritism? - What safeguards can protect merit? A Different Perspective Such tactics can erode public trust and fairness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [After](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/after/) [Allies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allies/) [Allow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allow/) [Climb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climb/) [Climbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climbs/) [Down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down/) [Find](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/find/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [In other words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/in-other-words/) [Kin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kin/) [Ladder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ladder/) [Ladders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ladders/) [Lower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lower/) [Meritocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meritocracy/) [Meritocracy Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meritocracy-says-2410389/) [Oligarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oligarchy/) [Other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/other/) [Pull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pull/) [Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says/) [Says Meritocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says-meritocracy-2410388/) [Says Oligarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says-oligarchy-2410387/) [Scramble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scramble/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [Those](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/those/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Ways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ways/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) ## Related quotes > [Who says meritocracy says oligarchy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/who-says-meritocracy-says-oligarchy/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [The dissonance that I felt daily flew in the face of what Silicon Valley says about itself: that it is a meritocracy, that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-losse/the-dissonance-that-i-felt-daily-flew-in-the-face-of-what-silicon/) [Katherine Losse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-losse/) > [“And you, their best beloved one, are now to me, flesh of my flesh; blood of my blood; kin of my kin; my bountiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bram-stoker/and-you-their-best-beloved-one-are-now-to-me-flesh-of-my-flesh-blood/) [Bram Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bram-stoker/) > [“In your name, the family name is at last because it's the family name that lasts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/in-your-name-the-family-name-is-at-last-because-it-s-the-family-name/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [A departure from the movie with Michael J. 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