--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Hiding behind such sacred terms as human…" description: "\"Hiding behind such sacred terms as human rights and distributive justice, politicians and intellectuals alike have perpetrated a gargantuan ruse on hum..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/gonzalo-fernandez-de-la-mora-7_assumption_hiding-behind-such-sacred-terms-as-human_1792282.jpg" --- # Hiding behind such sacred terms as human rights and… ![“Hiding behind such sacred terms as human rights and distributive justice, politicians and intellectuals alike have perpetrated a gargantuan ruse on humankind: they have convinced us that mass homogeneity is more essential for the betterment of society than is individual initiative, and they have…” quote by Gonzalo Fernandez de la Mora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/gonzalo-fernandez-de-la-mora-7_assumption_hiding-behind-such-sacred-terms-as-human_1792282.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/gonzalo-fernandez-de-la-mora-7_assumption_hiding-behind-such-sacred-terms-as-human_1792282.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/gonzalo-fernandez-de-la-mora-7_assumption_hiding-behind-such-sacred-terms-as-human_1792282.jpg) > “Hiding behind such sacred terms as human rights and distributive justice, politicians and intellectuals alike have perpetrated a gargantuan ruse on humankind: they have convinced us that mass homogeneity is more essential for the betterment of society than is individual initiative, and they have adorned this dubious assumption with assurances that by leveling all distinctions between human beings, collective peace and unity will result as a matter of course, just as water runs downhill or the cart follows the ox.” Gonzalo Fernandez de la Mora ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author argues that emphasizing collective equality over individual initiative is a deceptive narrative that ignores the value of personal effort. **In simple terms:** Collective equality can suppress individuality. Key Takeaway Balance collective goals with personal initiative. Themes politics philosophy individualism Mood critical analytical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - policy debates - education reform - community projects Key Concepts social engineering collectivism individual rights Questions to Reflect On - How can societies honor both equality and individuality? - What safeguards prevent collective narratives from eroding personal agency? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on uniformity can stifle innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumption/) [Assurance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assurance/) [Betterment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betterment/) [Distinction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) [Homogeneity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homogeneity/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Human rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-rights/) [Humankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humankind/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Initiative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/initiative/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Peace and unity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace-and-unity/) [Politician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politician/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Sacred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacred/) [Unity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unity/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [It has become impossible to give up the enterprise of disarmament without abandoning the whole great adventure of building up a collective peace system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-henderson/it-has-become-impossible-to-give-up-the-enterprise-of-disarmament/) [Arthur Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-henderson/) > [The perfect human being is all human beings put together, it is a collective, it is all of us together that make perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/the-perfect-human-being-is-all-human-beings-put-together-it-is-a/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [“It is not the different practice from one another that breaks the Peace and Unity, but judging of one another because of differing practices.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-penington/it-is-not-the-different-practice-from-one-another-that-breaks-the/) Isaac Penington > [Why can't we all just get along?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-king/why-can-t-we-all-just-get-along/) [Rodney King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-king/) > [The family as an institution today is beset on all sides. 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Compassion and the seeds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-lessons-we-have-begun-to-learn-make-me-hopeful-that-human-beings/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [May there be love in the hearts of all mankind. May there be peace and unity within humanity. May we all be united as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prem-tihan-shafiq/may-there-be-love-in-the-hearts-of-all-mankind-may-there-be-peace-and/) [Prem Tihan (Shafiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prem-tihan-shafiq/) > [Our world and our lives have become increasingly interdependent, so when our neighbour is harmed, it affects us too. 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The world needs the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-world-needs-the-kind-of-religion-that-sets-humanity-free-not-the/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“The gospel of Satan is not a system of revolutionary principles, nor yet a program of anarchy. It does not promote strife and war,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/the-gospel-of-satan-is-not-a-system-of-revolutionary-principles-nor/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [I hope someday you will join us and the world will live as one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-hope-someday-you-will-join-us-and-the-world-will-live-as-one/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) ## More by Gonzalo Fernandez de la Mora > [The quality of a society depends on its capacity to produce eminent personalities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gonzalo-fernandez-de-la-mora/the-quality-of-a-society-depends-on-its-capacity-to-produce-eminent/) Gonzalo Fernandez de la Mora > [There is no equality without coercion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gonzalo-fernandez-de-la-mora/there-is-no-equality-without-coercion/) Gonzalo Fernandez de la Mora > [The direction and rhythm of human progress do not depend on the masses, even when they add up to hundreds of millions; they depend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gonzalo-fernandez-de-la-mora/the-direction-and-rhythm-of-human-progress-do-not-depend-on-the/) Gonzalo Fernandez de la Mora Explore all 4 Gonzalo Fernandez de la Mora quotes ## More Assumption quotes > [Next to the assumption of power was the responsibility of relinquishing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/next-to-the-assumption-of-power-was-the-responsibility-of/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [It's difficult for people to come to the understanding that only a small minority of the people ever really get the word about life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/it-s-difficult-for-people-to-come-to-the-understanding-that-only-a/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [Much like teaching art to young art students age 10 to 15 or so on, you have to break it down into bite-sized pieces,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/much-like-teaching-art-to-young-art-students-age-10-to-15-or-so-on/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [Neither novels or their readers benefit from any attempts to divine whether any facts hide inside a story. 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If the risk among non-smokers is taken as unity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-doll/the-risk-of-developing-carcinoma-of-the-lung-increases-steadily-as/) Richard Doll > [Fortunately, the mind is restless; when it uncovers a layer of its own deception, gives up an illusion, exposes a lie, it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-chernin/fortunately-the-mind-is-restless-when-it-uncovers-a-layer-of-its-own/) [Kim Chernin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-chernin/) > [The possibility of saying anything about a thing rests on the assumption that it preserves its identity, or continues to be the same thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-knight/the-possibility-of-saying-anything-about-a-thing-rests-on-the/) [Frank Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-knight/) > [She spent hours drawing on her own, trying to perfect her craft. And when she got into music, she had that same diligence in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-joplin/she-spent-hours-drawing-on-her-own-trying-to-perfect-her-craft-and/) [Laura Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-joplin/) > [If they are, then the only ultimate truths are the particulars of concrete experience, and no postulate or general assumption is inherent in science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-wright/if-they-are-then-the-only-ultimate-truths-are-the-particulars-of/) [Chauncey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-wright/) > [If he's - the inference is that somehow he thinks slavery is a - is a noble institution I would - I would strongly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-he-s-the-inference-is-that-somehow-he-thinks-slavery-is-a-is-a/) [George W. 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The blacks on average score 85 per cent on IQ and it is accurate, nothing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/the-bell-curve-is-a-fact-of-life-the-blacks-on-average-score-85-per/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [Pussy Riot have certainly changed some people's assumptions about the role of political art and the relationship between the intelligentsia and the church. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/pussy-riot-have-certainly-changed-some-people-s-assumptions-about-the/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) [Browse all 1,277 Assumption quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumption/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Hiding behind such sacred terms as human rights and distributive justice, politicians and intellectuals alike have perpetrated a gargantuan ruse on humankind: they have convinced us that mass homogeneity is more essential for the betterment of society than is individual initiative, and they have adorned this dubious assumption with assurances that by leveling all distinctions between human beings, collective peace and unity will result as a matter of course, just as water runs downhill or the cart follows the ox.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gonzalo Fernandez de la Mora" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gonzalo-fernandez-de-la-mora/hiding-behind-such-sacred-terms-as-human-rights-and-distributive/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Assumption" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gonzalo-fernandez-de-la-mora/hiding-behind-such-sacred-terms-as-human-rights-and-distributive/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/gonzalo-fernandez-de-la-mora-7_assumption_hiding-behind-such-sacred-terms-as-human_1792282.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/gonzalo-fernandez-de-la-mora-7_assumption_hiding-behind-such-sacred-terms-as-human_1792282.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/gonzalo-fernandez-de-la-mora-7_assumption_hiding-behind-such-sacred-terms-as-human_1792282.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Hiding behind such sacred terms as human rights and distributive justice, politicians and intellectuals…” — Gonzalo Fernandez de la Mora", "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": "Gonzalo Fernandez de la Mora", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gonzalo-fernandez-de-la-mora/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Hiding behind such sacred terms as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gonzalo-fernandez-de-la-mora/hiding-behind-such-sacred-terms-as-human-rights-and-distributive/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gonzalo-fernandez-de-la-mora/hiding-behind-such-sacred-terms-as-human-rights-and-distributive/#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 } } ] } ```