Being equal Quote by Olympe de Gouges
“Male and female citizens, being equal in the eyes of the law, must be equally admitted to all honors, positions, and public employment according to their capacity and without other distinctions besides those of their virtues and talents.”
About This Quote
Source Document: Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen, 1791
Legal equality demands equal access to honors and jobs based on merit, not gender, recognizing virtue and talent as the only criteria.
In simple terms: Equality based on merit only.
Key Takeaway
Promote merit‑based inclusion.
Themes
equality
justice
meritocracy
Mood
hopeful
determined
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- employment policy
- education reform
- political advocacy
Key Concepts
human rights
gender studies
Questions to Reflect On
- How can institutions ensure merit‑based selection?
- What barriers persist despite legal equality?
A Different Perspective
Implementation can be hindered by bias.
![“Do not Bodies act upon Light at a distance, and by their action bend its Rays; and is not this action (caeteris paribus) [all else being equal] strongest at the least distance?” quote by Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f9c/isaac-newton-1226_action_do-not-bodies-act-upon-light-at-a-distan_90238.jpg)
![“[T]here is a methodological bias in favor of taking natural discourse literally, other things being equal. For example, unless there are clear reasons for construing discourse as ambiguous, elliptical, or involving special idioms, we should not so construe it.” quote by Tyler Burge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2be/tyler-burge-109585_ambiguous_t-here-is-a-methodological-bias-in-favor_377917.jpg)