--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The assumption that men were created…" description: "\"The assumption that men were created equal, with an equal ability to make an effort and win an earthly reward, although denied every day by experience,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/margaret-mead-982_ability_the-assumption-that-men-were-created-equ_3106527.jpg" --- # The assumption that men were created equal, with an equal… ![“The assumption that men were created equal, with an equal ability to make an effort and win an earthly reward, although denied every day by experience, is maintained every day by our folklore and our daydreams.” quote by Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/margaret-mead-982_ability_the-assumption-that-men-were-created-equ_3106527.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/margaret-mead-982_ability_the-assumption-that-men-were-created-equ_3106527.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/margaret-mead-982_ability_the-assumption-that-men-were-created-equ_3106527.jpg) > “The assumption that men were created equal, with an equal ability to make an effort and win an earthly reward, although denied every day by experience, is maintained every day by our folklore and our daydreams.” [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societal myths claim men are equally capable of effort and reward, yet daily life contradicts this, yet culture sustains the ideal. **In simple terms:** Folklore maintains false equality despite lived inequality. Key Takeaway Question and challenge cultural narratives. Themes equality myth social construct Mood analytical critical Type sociological philosophical When to use this quote - education reform - media critique - policy making Key Concepts cultural narratives social psychology Questions to Reflect On - What stories reinforce false equality? - How can societies confront these myths? A Different Perspective Idealized beliefs can ignore systemic bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Assumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumption/) [Assumption Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumption-men-5407833/) [Created Equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/created-equal/) [Day Folklore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day-folklore-5407831/) [Daydreaming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daydreaming/) [Denied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/denied/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal/) [Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality/) [Every day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-day/) [Folklore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folklore/) [Folklore Daydreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folklore-daydreams-5407832/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Created](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-created/) [Rewards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewards/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [All men are created Equal. 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And those are not just clever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/all-men-are-created-equal-government-by-consent-of-the-governed-give/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [All men are created equal and have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/all-men-are-created-equal-and-have-the-right-to-life-liberty-and-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The assertion that 'all men are created equal' was of no practical use in effecting our separation from Great Britain and it was placed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-assertion-that-all-men-are-created-equal-was-of-no-practical-use/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [All men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with a mighty urge to become otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/all-men-are-created-equal-and-endowed-by-their-creator-with-a-mighty/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [For all the great dreams profitlessly invested in the digital computer, it is nonetheless true that not since the framers of the American Constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berlinski/for-all-the-great-dreams-profitlessly-invested-in-the-digital/) [David Berlinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berlinski/) > [All men are created equal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/all-men-are-created-equal/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [As a nation we began by declaring that all me are created equal. We now practically read it, all men are created equal except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/as-a-nation-we-began-by-declaring-that-all-me-are-created-equal-we/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## More by Margaret Mead > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [The contempt for law and the contempt for the human consequences of lawbreaking go from the bottom to the top of American society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-contempt-for-law-and-the-contempt-for-the-human-consequences-of/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [If one cannot state a matter clearly enough so that even an intelligent twelve-year-old can understand it, one should remain within the cloistered walls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/if-one-cannot-state-a-matter-clearly-enough-so-that-even-an/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [I learned the value of hard work by working hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/i-learned-the-value-of-hard-work-by-working-hard/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/children-must-be-taught-how-to-think-not-what-to-think/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Women are scolded both for being mothers and for not being mothers, for wanting to eat their cake and have it too, and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/women-are-scolded-both-for-being-mothers-and-for-not-being-mothers/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [we came to realize that a civilization which rode roughshod over the way of life of other peoples was incorporating evil in its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/we-came-to-realize-that-a-civilization-which-rode-roughshod-over-the/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [WE MUST DEVISE A SYSTEM IN WHICH PEACE IS MORE REWARDING THAN WAR.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/we-must-devise-a-system-in-which-peace-is-more-rewarding-than-war/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Through a grandmother's voice and hands the end of life is known at the beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/through-a-grandmother-s-voice-and-hands-the-end-of-life-is-known-at/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [today's children are the first generation to grow up in a world that has the power to destroy itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/today-s-children-are-the-first-generation-to-grow-up-in-a-world-that/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [We are now at a point where we must educate our children in what no one knew yesterday, and prepare our schools for what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/we-are-now-at-a-point-where-we-must-educate-our-children-in-what-no/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Humanity . . . lies in man's capacity to question the known and imagine the unknown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/humanity-lies-in-man-s-capacity-to-question-the-known-and-imagine-the/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Fathers are biological necessities, but social accidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/fathers-are-biological-necessities-but-social-accidents/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“One of the most dangerous things that can happen to a child is to kill or torture an animal and not be held responsible.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/one-of-the-most-dangerous-things-that-can-happen-to-a-child-is-to/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [We end up with the contradictory picture of a society that appears to throw its doors wide open to women, but translates her every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/we-end-up-with-the-contradictory-picture-of-a-society-that-appears-to/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) [Explore all 314 Margaret Mead quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. 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I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 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