--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We know that equality of individual…" description: "\"We know that equality of individual ability has never existed and never will, but we do insist that equality of opportunity still must be sought.\" — Fr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_ability_we-know-that-equality-of-individual-abil_2521714.jpg" --- # We know that equality of individual ability has never… ![“We know that equality of individual ability has never existed and never will, but we do insist that equality of opportunity still must be sought.” quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_ability_we-know-that-equality-of-individual-abil_2521714.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_ability_we-know-that-equality-of-individual-abil_2521714.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_ability_we-know-that-equality-of-individual-abil_2521714.jpg) > “We know that equality of individual ability has never existed and never will, but we do insist that equality of opportunity still must be sought.” [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Equality of ability is impossible, but society should strive to give everyone a fair chance to succeed. **In simple terms:** We can’t equalize talent, only chance. Key Takeaway Promote fair access for all. Themes equality opportunity fairness Mood hopeful determined Type political inspirational When to use this quote - education reform - employment hiring - public funding - legal reforms Key Concepts social justice policy meritocracy Questions to Reflect On - What barriers still limit true opportunity? - How can we balance merit with fairness? A Different Perspective Opportunity alone doesn’t guarantee success without support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality/) [Equality of opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality-of-opportunity/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) ## Related quotes > [“equality and individual freedom as fundamental values. Yet the two values contradict each other. Equality”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/equality-and-individual-freedom-as-fundamental-values-yet-the-two/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [As long as the factories are in the hands of the whites, the housing is in the hands of the whites, the school system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/as-long-as-the-factories-are-in-the-hands-of-the-whites-the-housing/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“Practical equality of opportunity for all citizens, when we achieve it, will have two great results. First, every man will have a fair chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/practical-equality-of-opportunity-for-all-citizens-when-we-achieve-it/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Equality of opportunity is the essence of social justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-honore/equality-of-opportunity-is-the-essence-of-social-justice/) Tony Honore > [One thing that is clearly not maximized by free markets is equality. I am talking not about that pale substitute for equality known as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weinberg/one-thing-that-is-clearly-not-maximized-by-free-markets-is-equality-i/) [Steven Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weinberg/) > [Equality of economic opportunity, in the context of private property, means equality of opportunity for the millions of capital-less households of today to buy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-o-kelso/equality-of-economic-opportunity-in-the-context-of-private-property/) [Louis O. Kelso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-o-kelso/) > [“The equality in political, industrial and social life which modern men must have in order to live, is not to be confounded with sameness.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/the-equality-in-political-industrial-and-social-life-which-modern-men/) [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) > [Conservatives often say that we should care not about equality of outcomes but about equality of opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/conservatives-often-say-that-we-should-care-not-about-equality-of/) [Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/) > [Equality of opportunity is meaningless for those who do not have the capabilities to take advantage of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ha-joon-chang/equality-of-opportunity-is-meaningless-for-those-who-do-not-have-the/) [Ha-Joon Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ha-joon-chang/) > [But there is no equality of opportunity under existing laws and customs. In the race for wealth, which the economist seems as unable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-k-ingalls/but-there-is-no-equality-of-opportunity-under-existing-laws-and/) [Joshua K. Ingalls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-k-ingalls/) > [As minister for business and minister for women and equalities, it is clear to me that promoting equality of opportunity simply makes good business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-swinson/as-minister-for-business-and-minister-for-women-and-equalities-it-is/) [Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/) > [Technology is closing the gap between what one can imagine and what one can do and as a result the equality of opportunity is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mullenweg/technology-is-closing-the-gap-between-what-one-can-imagine-and-what/) [Matt Mullenweg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mullenweg/) > [My feeling is, having lived in different classes, that people want equality of opportunity... that's the thing that makes me despair: the idea that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/my-feeling-is-having-lived-in-different-classes-that-people-want/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [Political and social justice requires, not the disintegration of a country and destruction or humiliation of a class which shows initiative, intelligence and drive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syama-prasad-mukherjee/political-and-social-justice-requires-not-the-disintegration-of-a/) [Syama Prasad Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syama-prasad-mukherjee/) > [“Equality of condition and equality of opportunity must provide the foundation of an interdependent nation with building blocks found in dignity and respect given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-banks-lewis/equality-of-condition-and-equality-of-opportunity-must-provide-the/) Julie Banks Lewis ## More by Franklin D. Roosevelt > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Inquisitiveness is the most useful talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/inquisitiveness-is-the-most-useful-talent/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > ['Peace on earth, good will toward men' - democracy must cling to that message. For it is my deep conviction that democracy cannot live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/peace-on-earth-good-will-toward-men-democracy-must-cling-to-that/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [I have seen war ... I hate war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/i-have-seen-war-i-hate-war/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [I have seen war. I have seen war on land and sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded. I have seen men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/i-have-seen-war-i-have-seen-war-on-land-and-sea-i-have-seen-blood/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [All of our people all over the country-except the pure-blooded Indians-are immigrants or descendants of immigrants, including even those who came over here on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/all-of-our-people-all-over-the-country-except-the-pure-blooded/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [They have given their sons to the military services. They have stoked the furnaces and hurried the factory wheels. They have made the planes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/they-have-given-their-sons-to-the-military-services-they-have-stoked/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [On the European Front the most important development of the past year has been the crushing offensive of the Great Armies of Russia...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/on-the-european-front-the-most-important-development-of-the-past-year/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [The core of our defense is the faith we have in the institutions we defend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-core-of-our-defense-is-the-faith-we-have-in-the-institutions-we/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [War is a contagion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/war-is-a-contagion/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Labor Day symbolizes our determination to achieve an economic freedom for the average man which will give his political freedom realty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/labor-day-symbolizes-our-determination-to-achieve-an-economic-freedom/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Too often in recent history liberal governments have been wrecked on rocks of loose fiscal policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/too-often-in-recent-history-liberal-governments-have-been-wrecked-on/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [The frontier of America is on the Rhine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-frontier-of-america-is-on-the-rhine/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/repetition-does-not-transform-a-lie-into-a-truth/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [The future lies with those wise political leaders who realize that the great public is interested more in Government than in politics. The growing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-future-lies-with-those-wise-political-leaders-who-realize-that/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) [Explore all 521 Franklin D. Roosevelt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We know that equality of individual ability has never existed and never will, but we do insist that equality of opportunity still must be sought.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Franklin D. 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