--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Who says meritocracy says oligarchy." description: "\"Who says meritocracy says oligarchy.\" — Chris Hayes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/chris-hayes-2208_meritocracy_who-says-meritocracy-says-oligarchy-1200_1200496.png" --- # Who says meritocracy says oligarchy. ![“Who says meritocracy says oligarchy.” quote by Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/chris-hayes-2208_meritocracy_who-says-meritocracy-says-oligarchy-1200_1200496.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/chris-hayes-2208_meritocracy_who-says-meritocracy-says-oligarchy-1200_1200496.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/chris-hayes-2208_meritocracy_who-says-meritocracy-says-oligarchy-1200_1200496.png) > “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. Meritocracy often masks underlying oligarchic power structures that benefit the elite. **In simple terms:** Meritocracy can hide elite control. Key Takeaway Question the fairness of merit‑based systems. Themes politics economics power inequality Mood critical analytical Type analytical inquisitive When to use this quote - workplace promotions - government hiring - education admissions - wealth distribution Key Concepts sociology public policy elite theory Questions to Reflect On - Who benefits most from current merit systems? - How can true fairness be measured? A Different Perspective Reforms may be co‑opted by those in power. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Meritocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meritocracy/) [Meritocracy Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meritocracy-says-2410389/) [Oligarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oligarchy/) [Says Meritocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says-meritocracy-2410388/) [Says Oligarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says-oligarchy-2410387/) ## Related quotes > [Those who are able to climb up the ladder will find ways to pull it up after them, or selectively lower it down to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/those-who-are-able-to-climb-up-the-ladder-will-find-ways-to-pull-it/) [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/) > [ Meritocracy is our social ideal, particularly among good liberals. Equality of opportunity, but not of outcome. Not evaluating people by their \[outside\] features, but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/meritocracy-is-our-social-ideal-particularly-among-good-liberals/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [“We simply cannot engage with either the ills or promises of society if we continue to turn a blind eye to the egregious and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angel-kyodo-williams/we-simply-cannot-engage-with-either-the-ills-or-promises-of-society/) [Angel Kyodo Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angel-kyodo-williams/) > [“Where the establishment emphasized humility, prudence, lineage, meritocracy celebrates ambition, achievement, brains&self-betterment”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hayes/where-the-establishment-emphasized-humility-prudence-lineage/) [Christopher Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hayes/) > [Innovation and meritocracy was what America was based on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiva-ayyadurai/innovation-and-meritocracy-was-what-america-was-based-on/) [Shiva Ayyadurai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiva-ayyadurai/) > [One of the things that is great about this country is that we're a meritocracy. Aspirational, hard-working people who want to come here -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priti-patel/one-of-the-things-that-is-great-about-this-country-is-that-we-re-a/) [Priti Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priti-patel/) > [The hard thing for me, and it took me many years to understand, the concept of Hollywood not being a meritocracy - I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-todd/the-hard-thing-for-me-and-it-took-me-many-years-to-understand-the/) [Suzanne Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-todd/) > [People don't believe this, but Hollywood really is a meritocracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-jones/people-don-t-believe-this-but-hollywood-really-is-a-meritocracy/) [Rashida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-jones/) > [“Keeping people in jobs they are not suited for is terrible for them because it allows them to live in a false reality while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/keeping-people-in-jobs-they-are-not-suited-for-is-terrible-for-them/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [Is class snobbery a social reality in the United States? Absolutely, and the kind that's codified by meritocracy is probably more toxic than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/is-class-snobbery-a-social-reality-in-the-united-states-absolutely/) [Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/) > [The world is not a meritocracy, as much as we may like to pretend that it is. And we have a long way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-world-is-not-a-meritocracy-as-much-as-we-may-like-to-pretend-that/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [“As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken-2/as-democracy-is-perfected-the-office-of-president-represents-more-and/) [H.L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken-2/) > [Stand-up comedy in the end, unlike the rest of the entertainment industry, is a meritocracy. There's a certain level of undeniability you can work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/stand-up-comedy-in-the-end-unlike-the-rest-of-the-entertainment/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [“This story is not at all an uncommon one in tech circles, including gaming. The popular notion is that women who get ahead must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-poland/this-story-is-not-at-all-an-uncommon-one-in-tech-circles-including/) [Bailey Poland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-poland/) ## More by Chris Hayes > [There was a man named Robert Dear who in court said he was a warrior for the babies, whose ex-wife talked about his Christian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/there-was-a-man-named-robert-dear-who-in-court-said-he-was-a-warrior/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [ Ted Cruz who's been gaining on \[Donald\] Trump in Iowa and is polling ahead of him in the latest Monmouth poll would be quite… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/ted-cruz-who-s-been-gaining-on-donald-trump-in-iowa-and-is-polling/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [We have different expectations for different groups of people. We tend to modulate the degree with which we're forgiving or punitive depending on how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/we-have-different-expectations-for-different-groups-of-people-we-tend/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [The other theory of the case - and it's not just one that people opposed to him politically believe, but also people who share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/the-other-theory-of-the-case-and-it-s-not-just-one-that-people/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [ Now, \[Donald\] Trump has thus far gotten endorsements from illustrious group, that includes Sarah Palin, David Duke, Dennis Rodman, racially profiling birther sheriff, Joe… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/now-donald-trump-has-thus-far-gotten-endorsements-from-illustrious/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [“Let's run the experiment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/let-s-run-the-experiment/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [There is a sense in which, like, it could be the case that the incentives of running for president and the incentives of getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/there-is-a-sense-in-which-like-it-could-be-the-case-that-the/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [Donald Trump is not going anywhere. And we see as calculated as these are, he has a knack for telling a certain segment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/donald-trump-is-not-going-anywhere-and-we-see-as-calculated-as-these/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [When you think about the current present value of the fossil fuel reserves that are on the books, the current fossil fuel companies, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/when-you-think-about-the-current-present-value-of-the-fossil-fuel/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [“White fear emanates from knowing that white privilege exists and the anxiety that it might end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/white-fear-emanates-from-knowing-that-white-privilege-exists-and-the/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [Those who are able to climb up the ladder will find ways to pull it up after them, or selectively lower it down to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/those-who-are-able-to-climb-up-the-ladder-will-find-ways-to-pull-it/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [ The \[Donald's\] Trump war on the press continues. Tonight, the national cost of a conservative media bubble, now featuring alien conspiracy theories. And about… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/the-donald-s-trump-war-on-the-press-continues-tonight-the-national/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [The degree to which I try to be honest that there's some Donald Trump in all of us. The seduction of the promise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/the-degree-to-which-i-try-to-be-honest-that-there-s-some-donald-trump/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [ If he \[Donald Trump\]can boost Mitt Romney's performance five points among white folks, he could have a shot. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/if-he-donald-trump-can-boost-mitt-romney-s-performance-five-points/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [It's been a long and tumultuous relationship between Donald Trump and Ted Cruz that started off more or less as allies during the Republican…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/it-s-been-a-long-and-tumultuous-relationship-between-donald-trump-and/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) [Explore all 179 Chris Hayes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) ## More Meritocracy quotes > [“This story is not at all an uncommon one in tech circles, including gaming. The popular notion is that women who get ahead must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-poland/this-story-is-not-at-all-an-uncommon-one-in-tech-circles-including/) [Bailey Poland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-poland/) > [Stand-up comedy in the end, unlike the rest of the entertainment industry, is a meritocracy. There's a certain level of undeniability you can work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/stand-up-comedy-in-the-end-unlike-the-rest-of-the-entertainment/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [“As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken-2/as-democracy-is-perfected-the-office-of-president-represents-more-and/) [H.L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken-2/) > [The world is not a meritocracy, as much as we may like to pretend that it is. And we have a long way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-world-is-not-a-meritocracy-as-much-as-we-may-like-to-pretend-that/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [Is class snobbery a social reality in the United States? Absolutely, and the kind that's codified by meritocracy is probably more toxic than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/is-class-snobbery-a-social-reality-in-the-united-states-absolutely/) [Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/) > [“Keeping people in jobs they are not suited for is terrible for them because it allows them to live in a false reality while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/keeping-people-in-jobs-they-are-not-suited-for-is-terrible-for-them/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [People don't believe this, but Hollywood really is a meritocracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-jones/people-don-t-believe-this-but-hollywood-really-is-a-meritocracy/) [Rashida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-jones/) > [The hard thing for me, and it took me many years to understand, the concept of Hollywood not being a meritocracy - I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-todd/the-hard-thing-for-me-and-it-took-me-many-years-to-understand-the/) [Suzanne Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-todd/) > [Those who are able to climb up the ladder will find ways to pull it up after them, or selectively lower it down to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/those-who-are-able-to-climb-up-the-ladder-will-find-ways-to-pull-it/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [One of the things that is great about this country is that we're a meritocracy. Aspirational, hard-working people who want to come here -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priti-patel/one-of-the-things-that-is-great-about-this-country-is-that-we-re-a/) [Priti Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priti-patel/) > [Innovation and meritocracy was what America was based on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiva-ayyadurai/innovation-and-meritocracy-was-what-america-was-based-on/) [Shiva Ayyadurai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiva-ayyadurai/) > [“Where the establishment emphasized humility, prudence, lineage, meritocracy celebrates ambition, achievement, brains&self-betterment”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hayes/where-the-establishment-emphasized-humility-prudence-lineage/) [Christopher Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hayes/) > [“We simply cannot engage with either the ills or promises of society if we continue to turn a blind eye to the egregious and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angel-kyodo-williams/we-simply-cannot-engage-with-either-the-ills-or-promises-of-society/) [Angel Kyodo Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angel-kyodo-williams/) > [Meritocracy is a good thing. Whenever possibly, people should be judged based on their work and results, not superficial qualities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/meritocracy-is-a-good-thing-whenever-possibly-people-should-be-judged/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [ Meritocracy is our social ideal, particularly among good liberals. Equality of opportunity, but not of outcome. Not evaluating people by their \[outside\] features, but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/meritocracy-is-our-social-ideal-particularly-among-good-liberals/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) [Browse all 134 Meritocracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meritocracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Who says meritocracy says oligarchy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Chris Hayes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/who-says-meritocracy-says-oligarchy/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Meritocracy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/who-says-meritocracy-says-oligarchy/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/chris-hayes-2208_meritocracy_who-says-meritocracy-says-oligarchy-1200_1200496.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/chris-hayes-2208_meritocracy_who-says-meritocracy-says-oligarchy-1200_1200496.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/chris-hayes-2208_meritocracy_who-says-meritocracy-says-oligarchy-1200_1200496.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Who says meritocracy says oligarchy.” — Chris Hayes", "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": "Chris Hayes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Who says meritocracy says oligarchy.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/who-says-meritocracy-says-oligarchy/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/who-says-meritocracy-says-oligarchy/#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 } } ] } ```