--- 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, because millions of years have passed over ev..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/lee-kuan-yew-3939_racism_i-started-off-believing-all-men-were-equ_1214311.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, because millions of years have passed over evolution, people have scattered across the face of this earth, been isolated from each other, developed independently, had different intermixtures…” quote by Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/lee-kuan-yew-3939_racism_i-started-off-believing-all-men-were-equ_1214311.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/lee-kuan-yew-3939_racism_i-started-off-believing-all-men-were-equ_1214311.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/lee-kuan-yew-3939_racism_i-started-off-believing-all-men-were-equ_1214311.jpg) > ““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 have passed over evolution, people have scattered across the face of this earth, been isolated from each other, developed independently, had different intermixtures between races, peoples, climates, soils... I didn't start off with that knowledge. But by observation, reading, watching, arguing, asking, and then bullying my way to the top, 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. Human diversity stems from long evolutionary separation, making absolute equality unrealistic. **In simple terms:** People differ due to evolution and geography, so equality is unlikely. Key Takeaway Recognize diversity while promoting fairness. Themes equality diversity evolution Mood reflective thoughtful Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - education - international relations - social integration Key Concepts Sociology political theory Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance diversity with equal rights? - What policies respect differences yet ensure fairness? A Different Perspective Equality ideals may overlook systemic injustices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) ## Related quotes > [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... But 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-4/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [I started off believing all men were equal. 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I started out believing God for a nicer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-bakker/i-started-out-by-believing-god-for-a-newer-car-than-the-one-i-was/) [Jim Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-bakker/) > [When I was launched in 2010, people told me that I wasn't the best looking guy, so I would have to act really well.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranveer-singh/when-i-was-launched-in-2010-people-told-me-that-i-wasn-t-the-best/) [Ranveer Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranveer-singh/) ## More by Lee Kuan Yew > [“You know, the cure for all this talk is really a good dose of incompetent government. You get that alternative and you'll never put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/you-know-the-cure-for-all-this-talk-is-really-a-good-dose-of/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [The Bell curve is a fact of life. 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