--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A society that aims for equality before…" description: "\"A society that aims for equality before liberty will end up with neither equality nor liberty. And a society that aims first for liberty will not end u..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ba/milton-friedman-616_aim_a-society-that-aims-for-equality-before_638986.png" --- # A society that aims for equality before liberty will end… ![“A society that aims for equality before liberty will end up with neither equality nor liberty. And a society that aims first for liberty will not end up with equality, but it will end up with a closer approach to equality than any other kind of system that has ever been developed.” quote by Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ba/milton-friedman-616_aim_a-society-that-aims-for-equality-before_638986.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ba/milton-friedman-616_aim_a-society-that-aims-for-equality-before_638986.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ba/milton-friedman-616_aim_a-society-that-aims-for-equality-before_638986.png) > “A society that aims for equality before liberty will end up with neither equality nor liberty. And a society that aims first for liberty will not end up with equality, but it will end up with a closer approach to equality than any other kind of system that has ever been developed.” [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prioritizing equality over liberty leads to loss of both; prioritizing liberty first moves society closer to equality than other systems. **In simple terms:** Focusing on liberty first preserves more freedom and some equality. Key Takeaway Balance liberty with equality. Themes politics freedom equality policy society Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - government design - constitutional law - public policy - civil rights Key Concepts Libertarianism social contract trade-offs Questions to Reflect On - How can societies protect liberty while promoting fairness? - What safeguards prevent liberty from eroding equality? A Different Perspective Liberty alone may not guarantee equality; trade-offs exist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/) [Aims Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aims-equality-5134053/) [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [End Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-equality-1878436/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality/) [Equality Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality-liberty-430159/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Society Aims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society-aims-1000361/) ## Related quotes > [A society that puts equality — in the sense of equality of outcome — ahead of freedom will end up with neither equality nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/a-society-that-puts-equality-in-the-sense-of-equality-of-outcome-2/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Men live in a community in virtue of the things which they have in common; and communication is the way in which they come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/men-live-in-a-community-in-virtue-of-the-things-which-they-have-in/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [A university is not a service station. Neither is it a political society, nor a meeting place for political societies. With all its limitations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hofstadter/a-university-is-not-a-service-station-neither-is-it-a-political/) [Richard Hofstadter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hofstadter/) > [“Democracy is in the blood of the Muslims, who look upon complete equality of mankind, and believe in fraternity, equality, and liberty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali-jinnah/democracy-is-in-the-blood-of-the-muslims-who-look-upon-complete/) [Muhammad Ali Jinnah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali-jinnah/) > [Equality, because without it there can be no liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/equality-because-without-it-there-can-be-no-liberty/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [ Democracy is in the blood of Musalmans, who look upon complete equality of manhood \[mankind\]…\[and\] believe in fraternity, equality and liberty. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali-jinnah/democracy-is-in-the-blood-of-musalmans-who-look-upon-complete/) [Muhammad Ali Jinnah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali-jinnah/) > [Our doctrine of equality and liberty and humanity comes from our belief in the brotherhood of man, through the fatherhood of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/our-doctrine-of-equality-and-liberty-and-humanity-comes-from-our/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [The deadly Hydra now is the hydra of Equality. Liberty, Equality and Fraternity is the three-fanged serpent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/the-deadly-hydra-now-is-the-hydra-of-equality-liberty-equality-and/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [France placed the state above society , democracy above constitutionalism, and equality above liberty. As a result, for much of the nineteenth century it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fareed-zakaria/france-placed-the-state-above-society-democracy-above/) [Fareed Zakaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fareed-zakaria/) > [“Victims of the delusion that equality and liberty are the better assured by the multiplication of laws, nations daily consent to put up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-le-bon/victims-of-the-delusion-that-equality-and-liberty-are-the-better/) [Gustave Le Bon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-le-bon/) > [Socialism values equality more than liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/socialism-values-equality-more-than-liberty/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [“The object of civil society is justice, not truth, virtue, wealth, knowledge, glory or power. Justice is followed by equality and liberty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-emerich-edward-dalberg-acton/the-object-of-civil-society-is-justice-not-truth-virtue-wealth/) [John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-emerich-edward-dalberg-acton/) > [Abstract ideas like equality and liberty have a spurious transparency, and can be used to derive pleasing theorems in the manner of Jean-Jacques Rousseau…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/abstract-ideas-like-equality-and-liberty-have-a-spurious-transparency/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [“The deepest cause which made the French Revolution so disastrous to liberty was its theory of equality. Liberty was the watchword of the middle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-deepest-cause-which-made-the-french-revolution-so-disastrous-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The French Revolution gave us three... powerful ideas, or concepts - liberty, equality and fraternity. But these ideas... are not only right in themselves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-barenboim/the-french-revolution-gave-us-three-powerful-ideas-or-concepts/) [Daniel Barenboim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-barenboim/) ## More by Milton Friedman > [The government solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-government-solution-to-a-problem-is-usually-as-bad-as-the-problem/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [I believe the role that people like myself have played in the transformation of public opinion has been by persistently presenting a different point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/i-believe-the-role-that-people-like-myself-have-played-in-the/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [To really understand something you've got to reduce it to its principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/to-really-understand-something-you-ve-got-to-reduce-it-to-its/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [It is a mark of how far we have gone on the road to serfdom that government allocation and rationing of oil is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/it-is-a-mark-of-how-far-we-have-gone-on-the-road-to-serfdom-that/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Economic freedom is an essential requisite for political freedom. By enabling people to cooperate with one another without coercion or central direction, it reduces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/economic-freedom-is-an-essential-requisite-for-political-freedom-by/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [“The people in one district can choose not to reelect their member of Congress, but that will not change the composition of the government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-people-in-one-district-can-choose-not-to-reelect-their-member-of/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [When you have a time of crisis what happens depends on what ideas are floating around, and what ideas have been developed, and thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/when-you-have-a-time-of-crisis-what-happens-depends-on-what-ideas-are/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [The government doesn't have any money. The only power it has is to take from some and give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-government-doesn-t-have-any-money-the-only-power-it-has-is-to/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [What would the people who sold us goods do with the money? They'd get dollars. What would they do with the dollars? Eat them?!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/what-would-the-people-who-sold-us-goods-do-with-the-money-they-d-get/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [World trade depends on differences among countries, not similarities. Different countries are in different stages of development. It is appropriate for them to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/world-trade-depends-on-differences-among-countries-not-similarities/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Is there some society you know of that doesn't run on greed? You think Russia doesn't run on greed? You think China doesn't run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/is-there-some-society-you-know-of-that-doesn-t-run-on-greed-you-think/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Well first of all, tell me, is there some society you know of that doesn't run on greed? You think Russia doesn't run on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/well-first-of-all-tell-me-is-there-some-society-you-know-of-that/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [I think almost every economist would agree that government gets itself in trouble when it tries to interfere with voluntary behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/i-think-almost-every-economist-would-agree-that-government-gets/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [It is most attractive about the US to people and countries with wealth is that it can provide security, insurance really, against political instability.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/it-is-most-attractive-about-the-us-to-people-and-countries-with/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Hong Kong is the bellwether. If the Chinese stick to their agreement to let Hong Kong go its own path, then China will also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/hong-kong-is-the-bellwether-if-the-chinese-stick-to-their-agreement/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) [Explore all 444 Milton Friedman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) ## More Aim quotes > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) > [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. 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