--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What divides men is less a difference in…" description: "\"What divides men is less a difference in ideas than a likeness in pretensions.\" — Pierre-Jean de Beranger" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/pierre-jean-de-b-ranger-40259_differences_what-divides-men-is-less-a-difference-in_178654.jpg" --- # What divides men is less a difference in ideas than a… ![“What divides men is less a difference in ideas than a likeness in pretensions.” quote by Pierre-Jean de Beranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/pierre-jean-de-b-ranger-40259_differences_what-divides-men-is-less-a-difference-in_178654.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/pierre-jean-de-b-ranger-40259_differences_what-divides-men-is-less-a-difference-in_178654.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/pierre-jean-de-b-ranger-40259_differences_what-divides-men-is-less-a-difference-in_178654.jpg) > “What divides men is less a difference in ideas than a likeness in pretensions.” [Pierre-Jean de Beranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-jean-de-b-ranger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The conflict between people often stems from similar egos and pretensions rather than genuine ideological differences. **In simple terms:** People clash because of pride, not ideas. Key Takeaway Recognize and temper ego to reduce conflict. Themes ego conflict pride social dynamics Mood reflective critical Type analytical observational When to use this quote - political debates - workplace rivalries - social media arguments - family disputes Key Concepts pretensions identity status competition Questions to Reflect On - Do you see ego influencing your disagreements? - How can humility change the outcome? A Different Perspective If underlying ideas differ, the clash may be deeper than ego alone. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Difference Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difference-ideas-1917553/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Divides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divides/) [Divides Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divides-men-1917550/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Likeness Pretensions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/likeness-pretensions-1917552/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-difference-1917551/) [Pretension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretension/) ## Related quotes > [Mysticism requires the notion of the unknowable, which is revealed to some and withheld from others; this divides men into those who feel guilt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/mysticism-requires-the-notion-of-the-unknowable-which-is-revealed-to/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Pride divides the men, humility joins them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/pride-divides-the-men-humility-joins-them/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [ “\[Snobbishness\] is the desire for what divides men and the inability to value what unites them.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/snobbishness-is-the-desire-for-what-divides-men-and-the-inability-to/) [Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/) > [Everything that divides men, everything that separates or herds men together in categories, is a sin against humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-marti/everything-that-divides-men-everything-that-separates-or-herds-men/) [Jose Marti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-marti/) > [In an enterprise such as the building of the atomic bomb the difference between ideas, hopes, suggestions and theoretical calculations, and solid numbers based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilio-g-segre/in-an-enterprise-such-as-the-building-of-the-atomic-bomb-the/) [Emilio G. 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'Men do, though.' 'What difference does that make?' 'All the difference in the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/but-god-doesn-t-change-men-do-though-what-difference-does-that-make/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [To hell with monsters and to hell with men. There is no difference to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/to-hell-with-monsters-and-to-hell-with-men-there-is-no-difference-to/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [The only good in pretending is the fun we get out of fooling ourselves that we fool somebody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booth-tarkington/the-only-good-in-pretending-is-the-fun-we-get-out-of-fooling/) [Booth Tarkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booth-tarkington/) > [Humans — who enslave, castrate, experiment on, and fillet other animals — have had an understandable penchant for pretending animals do not feel pain.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/humans-who-enslave-castrate-experiment-on-and-fillet-other-animals/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Show some mercy to this chair which has stretched out its arms to you for so long; please satisfy its desire to embrace you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/show-some-mercy-to-this-chair-which-has-stretched-out-its-arms-to-you/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-worth-noticing-that-those-who-assume-an-imposing-demeanor-and/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [My influences are jazz, blues, European classical music; they are rock music and pop music. So many kinds of music. World music from different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rokia-traore/my-influences-are-jazz-blues-european-classical-music-they-are-rock/) [Rokia Traore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rokia-traore/) ## More by Pierre-Jean de Beranger > [“Freedom is the most precious property; I resisted the misery to keep my freedom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-jean-de-b-ranger/freedom-is-the-most-precious-property-i-resisted-the-misery-to-keep/) [Pierre-Jean de Béranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-jean-de-b-ranger/) > [Flow wine, smile woman, and the universe is consoled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-jean-de-b-ranger/flow-wine-smile-woman-and-the-universe-is-consoled/) [Pierre-Jean de Beranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-jean-de-b-ranger/) > [A man's reception depends upon his coat; his dismissal upon the wit he shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-jean-de-b-ranger/a-man-s-reception-depends-upon-his-coat-his-dismissal-upon-the-wit-he/) [Pierre-Jean de Beranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-jean-de-b-ranger/) > [Glory is a shroud that posterity often tears from the shoulders of those who wore it when living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-jean-de-b-ranger/glory-is-a-shroud-that-posterity-often-tears-from-the-shoulders-of/) [Pierre-Jean de Beranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-jean-de-b-ranger/) > [Many have lived on a pedestal who will never have a statue when dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-jean-de-b-ranger/many-have-lived-on-a-pedestal-who-will-never-have-a-statue-when-dead/) [Pierre-Jean de Beranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-jean-de-b-ranger/) > [Adieu! 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Onward! Onward! Gauls and Franks!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-jean-de-b-ranger/gaily-gaily-close-our-ranks-arm-advance-hope-of-france-gaily-gaily/) [Pierre-Jean de Beranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-jean-de-b-ranger/) [Explore all 10 Pierre-Jean de Beranger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-jean-de-b-ranger/) ## More Differences quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. 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