--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing is so unequal as equality." description: "\"Nothing is so unequal as equality.\" — Pliny the Elder" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/470/pliny-the-elder-2838_equality_nothing-is-so-unequal-as-equality-200899_2008996.png" --- # Nothing is so unequal as equality. ![“Nothing is so unequal as equality.” quote by Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/470/pliny-the-elder-2838_equality_nothing-is-so-unequal-as-equality-200899_2008996.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/470/pliny-the-elder-2838_equality_nothing-is-so-unequal-as-equality-200899_2008996.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/470/pliny-the-elder-2838_equality_nothing-is-so-unequal-as-equality-200899_2008996.png) > “Nothing is so unequal as equality.” [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Equality can mask underlying disparities, making it the most unequal concept. **In simple terms:** Equality may hide real differences. Key Takeaway Examine true fairness. Themes philosophy justice equality Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - law - education - policy making Key Concepts social theory paradox Questions to Reflect On - When does equality become unfair? - How to address hidden inequities? A Different Perspective Equality can be misapplied. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality/) [Unequal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unequal/) [Unequal Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unequal-equality-3577035/) ## Related quotes > [It is wrong to use equal language for unequal actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-akinola/it-is-wrong-to-use-equal-language-for-unequal-actions/) [Peter Akinola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-akinola/) > [Equal treatment for children in unequal situations is not justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-brown/equal-treatment-for-children-in-unequal-situations-is-not-justice/) [Jerry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-brown/) > [When there has been a problem in your marriage, you cannot forever go on thinking, 'I am the most terrible person in the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-quinn/when-there-has-been-a-problem-in-your-marriage-you-cannot-forever-go/) [Kimberly Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-quinn/) > [Unequal combinations are always disadvantageous to the weaker side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/unequal-combinations-are-always-disadvantageous-to-the-weaker-side/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Unequal funding resources also results in unequal educational opportunity when you consider studies that show that one half of low income students who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-scott/unequal-funding-resources-also-results-in-unequal-educational/) [Bobby Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-scott/) > [Black Americans have organized all across this country because we have an unequal justice system, not because anyone demands special privileges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-messam/black-americans-have-organized-all-across-this-country-because-we/) [Wayne Messam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-messam/) > [Offering unequal leaves just reinforces the longstanding notion that parenting responsibilities aren't equal, and that doesn't help anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-tsai/offering-unequal-leaves-just-reinforces-the-longstanding-notion-that/) [Christine Tsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-tsai/) > [“Composition is the arrangement of unequal things”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford-canada/composition-is-the-arrangement-of-unequal-things/) [Richard Ford Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford-canada/) > [I don't care if the Bible says it. It's wrong. It's wrong to divide people on the basis of sexual preference, of sexual orientation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-m-dershowitz/i-don-t-care-if-the-bible-says-it-it-s-wrong-it-s-wrong-to-divide/) [Alan M Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-m-dershowitz/) > [Separate and unequal didn't work 100 years ago. It will not work today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/separate-and-unequal-didn-t-work-100-years-ago-it-will-not-work-today/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [If the U.S. is the richest country in the world, why is it also the most unequal?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-kasparian/if-the-u-s-is-the-richest-country-in-the-world-why-is-it-also-the/) [Ana Kasparian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-kasparian/) > [Land ownership in Guatemala is more unequal than anywhere else in Latin America. Roughly 90 percent of Guatemalan farms are too small to support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/land-ownership-in-guatemala-is-more-unequal-than-anywhere-else-in/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [Sexual harassment legislation in its present form makes all men unequal to all women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/sexual-harassment-legislation-in-its-present-form-makes-all-men/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [Unequal distribution of income is an excessively uneconomic method of getting the necessary saving done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-robinson/unequal-distribution-of-income-is-an-excessively-uneconomic-method-of/) [Joan Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-robinson/) > [Our nation is moving toward two societies, one black, one white-separate and unequal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-kerner-jr/our-nation-is-moving-toward-two-societies-one-black-one-white/) [Otto Kerner Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-kerner-jr/) ## More by Pliny the Elder > [Simple diet is best: for many dishes bring many diseases, and rich sauces are worse than even heaping several meats upon each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/simple-diet-is-best-for-many-dishes-bring-many-diseases-and-rich/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [Amid the sufferings of life on earth, suicide is God's best gift to man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/amid-the-sufferings-of-life-on-earth-suicide-is-god-s-best-gift-to-man/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [The happier the moment the shorter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/the-happier-the-moment-the-shorter/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [Indeed, what is there that does not appear marvelous when it comes to our knowledge for the first time? How many things, too, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/indeed-what-is-there-that-does-not-appear-marvelous-when-it-comes-to/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [Accustom yourself to master and overcome things of difficulty; for if you observe, the left hand for want of practice is insignificant, and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/accustom-yourself-to-master-and-overcome-things-of-difficulty-for-if/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [As land is improved by sowing it with various seeds, so is the mind by exercising it with different studies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/as-land-is-improved-by-sowing-it-with-various-seeds-so-is-the-mind-by/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [True happiness consists in being considered deserving of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/true-happiness-consists-in-being-considered-deserving-of-it/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [The largest land animal is the elephant, and it is the nearest to man in intelligence: it understands the language of its country and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/the-largest-land-animal-is-the-elephant-and-it-is-the-nearest-to-man/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [Many dishes bring many diseases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/many-dishes-bring-many-diseases/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [In the literary as well as military world, most powerful abilities will often be found concealed under a rustic garb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/in-the-literary-as-well-as-military-world-most-powerful-abilities/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [Man naturally yearns for novelty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/man-naturally-yearns-for-novelty/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [With man, most of his misfortunes are occasioned by man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/with-man-most-of-his-misfortunes-are-occasioned-by-man/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [Better do nothing than do ill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/better-do-nothing-than-do-ill/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [It is this earth that, like a kind mother, receives us at our birth, and sustains us when born; it is this alone, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/it-is-this-earth-that-like-a-kind-mother-receives-us-at-our-birth-and/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [His only fault is that he has no fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/his-only-fault-is-that-he-has-no-fault/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) [Explore all 147 Pliny the Elder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) ## More Equality quotes > [Race is the idea that a human being is more superior than another human being, race in society grants illusional rights to mistreat each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/race-is-the-idea-that-a-human-being-is-more-superior-than-another/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Nothing says the party is over more than when you run out of ice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rande-gerber/nothing-says-the-party-is-over-more-than-when-you-run-out-of-ice/) [Rande Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rande-gerber/) > [I hope that we always have diversity, that we have equality and representation every step of the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsai-martin/i-hope-that-we-always-have-diversity-that-we-have-equality-and/) [Marsai Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsai-martin/) > [“Unless man is commited to the belief that all mankind are his brothers, then he labours in vain and hypocritically in the vineyards of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clayton-powell/unless-man-is-commited-to-the-belief-that-all-mankind-are-his/) [Adam Clayton Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clayton-powell/) > [I speak not for myself, but so those without a voice can be heard. Those who have fought for their rights. Their right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malala-yousafzai/i-speak-not-for-myself-but-so-those-without-a-voice-can-be-heard/) [Malala Yousafzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malala-yousafzai/) > [I've identified as bisexual since I was a teenager, and if we want to achieve equality for all in our policies, we need more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-hill/i-ve-identified-as-bisexual-since-i-was-a-teenager-and-if-we-want-to/) [Katie Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-hill/) > [ \[Fighting for equality for women\] that's what my mission has been for the last years. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-broadwell/fighting-for-equality-for-women-that-s-what-my-mission-has-been-for/) [Paula Broadwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-broadwell/) > [We have to restore power to the family, to the neighborhood, and the community with a non-market principle, a principle of equality, of charity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-brown/we-have-to-restore-power-to-the-family-to-the-neighborhood-and-the/) [Jerry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-brown/) > [When we speak about equality, you want to be playing on the best pitches with the best facilities. You want to be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-duggan/when-we-speak-about-equality-you-want-to-be-playing-on-the-best/) [Toni Duggan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-duggan/) > [Free milk will be provided in Hoxton and Shoredith, in Eton and Harrow. What more social equality can you have than that?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-wilkinson/free-milk-will-be-provided-in-hoxton-and-shoredith-in-eton-and-harrow/) [Ellen Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-wilkinson/) > [The great paradox of the civil rights revolution is that instead of enforcing and expanding equality before the law, the revolution created differential rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/the-great-paradox-of-the-civil-rights-revolution-is-that-instead-of/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [I will always support legislation which respects and values life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gresham-barrett/i-will-always-support-legislation-which-respects-and-values-life/) [Gresham Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gresham-barrett/) > [Sporting events like the Olympics have developed and maintained a clear message of promoting gender equality as an essential criterion in the success of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-attias/sporting-events-like-the-olympics-have-developed-and-maintained-a/) [Richard Attias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-attias/) > [Although it may be difficult in theory to know what is just and equal, the practical difficulty of inducing those to forbear who can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/although-it-may-be-difficult-in-theory-to-know-what-is-just-and-equal/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) [Browse all 3,799 Equality quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nothing is so unequal as equality.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pliny the Elder" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/nothing-is-so-unequal-as-equality/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Equality" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/nothing-is-so-unequal-as-equality/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/470/pliny-the-elder-2838_equality_nothing-is-so-unequal-as-equality-200899_2008996.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/470/pliny-the-elder-2838_equality_nothing-is-so-unequal-as-equality-200899_2008996.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/470/pliny-the-elder-2838_equality_nothing-is-so-unequal-as-equality-200899_2008996.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nothing is so unequal as equality.” — Pliny the Elder", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Pliny the Elder", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Nothing is so unequal as equality.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/nothing-is-so-unequal-as-equality/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/nothing-is-so-unequal-as-equality/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```