Authority Quote by Friedrich August von Hayek
“The [classical] liberal, of course, does not deny that there are some superior people -- he is not an egalitarian -- but he denies that anyone has authority to decide who these superior people are.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Constitution of Liberty, 1960
A liberal accepts inequality but rejects the right of anyone to decide who is superior.
In simple terms: Liberals oppose authority to label superiority.
Question who claims authority over merit.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- social movements
- education curricula
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Who decides what makes someone superior?
- Can true equality exist without some hierarchy?
It may ignore systemic biases that affect opportunities.