--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started off believing all men were…" description: "\"I started off believing all men were equal. I now know that's the most unlikely thing ever to have been... But by observation, reading, watching, argui..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a1/lee-kuan-yew-3939_arguing_i-started-off-believing-all-men-were-equ_2023702.jpg" --- # I started off believing all men were equal. I now know… ![“I started off believing all men were equal. I now know that's the most unlikely thing ever to have been... But by observation, reading, watching, arguing, asking, that is the conclusion I've come to.” quote by Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a1/lee-kuan-yew-3939_arguing_i-started-off-believing-all-men-were-equ_2023702.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a1/lee-kuan-yew-3939_arguing_i-started-off-believing-all-men-were-equ_2023702.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a1/lee-kuan-yew-3939_arguing_i-started-off-believing-all-men-were-equ_2023702.jpg) > “I started off believing all men were equal. I now know that's the most unlikely thing ever to have been... But by observation, reading, watching, arguing, asking, that is the conclusion I've come to.” [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Initial belief in universal equality is challenged by observed societal disparities and complexities **In simple terms:** Equality is more complex than it appears Key Takeaway Recognize nuanced realities beyond idealistic views Themes equality observation reality politics Mood reflective analytical serious Type philosophical political educational When to use this quote - personal essay - public address - interview - lecture - memoir Key Concepts social stratification historical context policy impact human behavior Questions to Reflect On - What factors undermine equality? - How can policies address these gaps? A Different Perspective Equality ideals may be unrealistic without systemic change ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arguing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arguing/) [Asking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believing/) [Believing Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believing-men-699349/) [Bullying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullying/) [Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) [Equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal/) [Equal Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal-know-1750615/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-equal/) [My way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-way/) [Observation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observation/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Started Believing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-believing-418268/) [Unlikely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unlikely/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [I started off believing all men were equal. I now know that's the most unlikely thing ever to have been. . .by observation, reading,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/i-started-off-believing-all-men-were-equal-i-now-know-that-s-the-most-3/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [I started off believing all men were equal. I now know that's the most unlikely thing ever to have been, because millions of years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/i-started-off-believing-all-men-were-equal-i-now-know-that-s-the-most-2/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [“I started off believing all men were equal. I now know that's the most unlikely thing ever to have been, because millions of years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/i-started-off-believing-all-men-were-equal-i-now-know-that-s-the-most/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [Believing that all women should want to be mothers makes about as much sense as believing that all men should want to be engineers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/believing-that-all-women-should-want-to-be-mothers-makes-about-as/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [I believe we are all born equal. You know, we are, whether you're a boy or a girl, you should have the same equal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-yeoh/i-believe-we-are-all-born-equal-you-know-we-are-whether-you-re-a-boy/) [Michelle Yeoh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-yeoh/) > [“We might not be equal in what we know but we are surely equal, in what we do not know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pushkar-ganesh-vaidya/we-might-not-be-equal-in-what-we-know-but-we-are-surely-equal-in-what/) [Pushkar Ganesh Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pushkar-ganesh-vaidya/) > [I believe that we are all equal eventhough we might be different or come from different homes,but we are equal you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usiphile-sizwe-thabani-ngobe/i-believe-that-we-are-all-equal-eventhough-we-might-be-different-or/) [Usiphile Sizwe Thabani Ngobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usiphile-sizwe-thabani-ngobe/) > [“We might not be equal in what we know but we are equal in what we do not know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pushkar-ganesh-vaidya/we-might-not-be-equal-in-what-we-know-but-we-are-equal-in-what-we-do/) [Pushkar Ganesh Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pushkar-ganesh-vaidya/) > [All things being equal I always put you first you know that I've been down for you through better and through worse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-things-being-equal-i-always-put-you-first-you-know-that-i-ve-been/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I started out by believing God for a newer car than the one I was driving. 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Then you will just stay put, you won't progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/a-leader-without-the-vision-to-strive-to-improve-things-is-no-good/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [India is scared of the competition... because Chinese goods will go into India and compete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/india-is-scared-of-the-competition-because-chinese-goods-will-go-into/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [I was a product of the times, the war, the occupation, the reoccupation, my 4 years in Britain, admiring but at the same time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/i-was-a-product-of-the-times-the-war-the-occupation-the-reoccupation/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [Three women were brought to the Singapore General Hospital, each in the same condition and needing a blood transfusion. 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So the cost benefit made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/nine-holes-of-golf-will-take-you-one-and-a-half-two-hours-i-run-in-20/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) [Explore all 119 Lee Kuan Yew quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) ## More Arguing quotes > [I do wish you wouldn't argue with me when I'm knitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/i-do-wish-you-wouldn-t-argue-with-me-when-i-m-knitting/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. But it is rude to argue about politics with people you disagree with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/it-s-fine-to-talk-about-politics-with-people-you-agree-with-but-it-is/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Men are fair, and they have learned not to personalize anger - they can disagree with you and argue to the bone, but afterward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/men-are-fair-and-they-have-learned-not-to-personalize-anger-they-can/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Fasting is required, staying away from fighting and arguing and bombing of masjids is still going on. 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Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [I'm a very serious person, but I don't take myself very seriously and I would rather laugh all day than argue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stone-cold-steve-austin/i-m-a-very-serious-person-but-i-don-t-take-myself-very-seriously-and/) [Stone Cold Steve Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stone-cold-steve-austin/) > [These eyes, tho' clear To outward view of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot, Nor to their idle orbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/these-eyes-tho-clear-to-outward-view-of-blemish-or-of-spot-bereft-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [There's crucial distinction that has to be drawn between the Shari'a, which is this hugely expansive vision of cosmic order that I've been describing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadakat-kadri/there-s-crucial-distinction-that-has-to-be-drawn-between-the-shari-a/) [Sadakat Kadri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadakat-kadri/) > [Only fools argue whether to eat meat or not. 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