Assertion Quote by Ludwig von Mises
“The liberals of the eighteenth century, guided by the ideas of natural law and of the Enlightenment, demanded for everyone equality of political and civil rights... Nothing, however, is as ill-founded as the assertion of the alleged equality of all members of the human race.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Human Action by Ludwig von Mises, 1949
Enlightenment thinkers sought universal equality, yet the claim that all humans are equally equal is fundamentally flawed.
In simple terms: Questioning the notion of absolute human equality.
Key Takeaway
Critically assess equality claims.
Themes
equality
enlightenment
politics
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- policy debate
- civil rights movements
- academic discourse
Key Concepts
natural law
philosophical foundations
Questions to Reflect On
- What basis defines true equality?
- How do we reconcile equality with diversity?
A Different Perspective
Equality can be interpreted differently across cultures.
