--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When our Founding Fathers wrote the…" description: "\"When our Founding Fathers wrote the historic words 'all men are created equal,' they probably didn't have people like me in mind.\" — Raja Krishnamoorthi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db8/raja-krishnamoorthi-6277_founding-fathers_when-our-founding-fathers-wrote-the-hist_1440887.jpg" --- # When our Founding Fathers wrote the historic words 'all… ![“When our Founding Fathers wrote the historic words 'all men are created equal,' they probably didn't have people like me in mind.” quote by Raja Krishnamoorthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db8/raja-krishnamoorthi-6277_founding-fathers_when-our-founding-fathers-wrote-the-hist_1440887.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db8/raja-krishnamoorthi-6277_founding-fathers_when-our-founding-fathers-wrote-the-hist_1440887.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db8/raja-krishnamoorthi-6277_founding-fathers_when-our-founding-fathers-wrote-the-hist_1440887.jpg) > “When our Founding Fathers wrote the historic words 'all men are created equal,' they probably didn't have people like me in mind.” [Raja Krishnamoorthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raja-krishnamoorthi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The ideal of equality is often applied selectively, excluding many groups. **In simple terms:** Equality isn’t truly universal. Key Takeaway Advocate for broader inclusion. Themes equality justice politics Mood critical reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - community organizing - education reform Key Concepts systemic bias representation civil rights Questions to Reflect On - Who is left out by current definitions? - How can policies become more inclusive? A Different Perspective Idealistic statements can mask systemic exclusion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Founding fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founding-fathers/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) ## Related quotes > [ While \[the Arians\], like men sprung from a dunghill, truly "spoke from the earth" \[Jn. 3:31\], the bishops \[of Nicea\], not having invented their… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athanasius-of-alexandria/while-the-arians-like-men-sprung-from-a-dunghill-truly-spoke-from-the/) [Athanasius of Alexandria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athanasius-of-alexandria/) > [“The ashes of my fathers, wrote me a destiny, but my existence in pothers, that destiny questions my identity, lost in an ocean of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harpreet-singh-nanda/the-ashes-of-my-fathers-wrote-me-a-destiny-but-my-existence-in/) [Harpreet Singh Nanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harpreet-singh-nanda/) > [As a nation, we began by declaring that 'all men 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-men-are-created-equal-we/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“One more thing, gentlemen, before I quit. Thomas Jefferson once said that all men are created equal, a phrase that the Yankees and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee-to-kill-a-mockingbird/one-more-thing-gentlemen-before-i-quit-thomas-jefferson-once-said/) Harper Lee To Kill A Mockingbird > [“Thomas Jefferson once said that all men are created equal (...). There is a tendency (...) for certain people to use this phrase out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/thomas-jefferson-once-said-that-all-men-are-created-equal-there-is-a/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [You don't know who to believe. Like Abraham Lincoln. He said all men were created equal. He never went to a nude beach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-dangerfield/you-don-t-know-who-to-believe-like-abraham-lincoln-he-said-all-men/) [Rodney Dangerfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-dangerfield/) > [For you in the West to hear the phrase 'All men are created equal' is to draw a yawn. For us, it's a miracle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/for-you-in-the-west-to-hear-the-phrase-all-men-are-created-equal-is/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [“We know all men are not created equal in the sense some people would have us believe. Some people are smarter than others, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/we-know-all-men-are-not-created-equal-in-the-sense-some-people-would/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > ["All men are created equal." "Government by consent of the governed." "Give me liberty or give me death." 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/) > [All men are created Equal. Some just have more Splenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/all-men-are-created-equal-some-just-have-more-splenda/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) ## More by Raja Krishnamoorthi > [Our country's history is a generation-spanning journey to effectuate the notion that 'all men are created equal' for the members of our ever-expanding national…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raja-krishnamoorthi/our-country-s-history-is-a-generation-spanning-journey-to-effectuate/) [Raja Krishnamoorthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raja-krishnamoorthi/) > [Mail enables businesses to deliver vital services and products, including medication, and allows these same businesses to receive payments in a timely way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raja-krishnamoorthi/mail-enables-businesses-to-deliver-vital-services-and-products/) [Raja Krishnamoorthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raja-krishnamoorthi/) > [Donald Trump will become president even after losing the popular vote in our November elections by a wide margin. To govern effectively, he must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raja-krishnamoorthi/donald-trump-will-become-president-even-after-losing-the-popular-vote/) [Raja Krishnamoorthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raja-krishnamoorthi/) > [We need to cut unnecessary weapons programs like the F-35 fighter plane that cost trillions of dollars and don't even work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raja-krishnamoorthi/we-need-to-cut-unnecessary-weapons-programs-like-the-f-35-fighter/) [Raja Krishnamoorthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raja-krishnamoorthi/) > [I think that what is really important is that, at the grassroots level, Indian-Americans really engage in the political process. That means voting and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raja-krishnamoorthi/i-think-that-what-is-really-important-is-that-at-the-grassroots-level/) [Raja Krishnamoorthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raja-krishnamoorthi/) > [If I am elected to Congress, I plan to introduce legislation tying Congressional pay to performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raja-krishnamoorthi/if-i-am-elected-to-congress-i-plan-to-introduce-legislation-tying/) [Raja Krishnamoorthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raja-krishnamoorthi/) > [If I'm privileged to be elected, I'd be blessed to represent a diverse district, including South Asians and Indian Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raja-krishnamoorthi/if-i-m-privileged-to-be-elected-i-d-be-blessed-to-represent-a-diverse/) [Raja Krishnamoorthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raja-krishnamoorthi/) > [We must reject the politics of meanness and contempt that increasingly dominate our airwaves and Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raja-krishnamoorthi/we-must-reject-the-politics-of-meanness-and-contempt-that/) [Raja Krishnamoorthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raja-krishnamoorthi/) > [My parents climbed their way to the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raja-krishnamoorthi/my-parents-climbed-their-way-to-the-middle-class/) [Raja Krishnamoorthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raja-krishnamoorthi/) > [So many of our businesses rely on green card holders - how are we supposed to attract these people if they think they'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raja-krishnamoorthi/so-many-of-our-businesses-rely-on-green-card-holders-how-are-we/) [Raja Krishnamoorthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raja-krishnamoorthi/) > [I'm a product of public schools. They are resource-challenged, and when you take those dollars away from public schools and send them to private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raja-krishnamoorthi/i-m-a-product-of-public-schools-they-are-resource-challenged-and-when/) [Raja Krishnamoorthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raja-krishnamoorthi/) > [When a foreign adversary knows that an American official has deceived or withheld vital information from our government, it creates a fundamental counterintelligence vulnerability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raja-krishnamoorthi/when-a-foreign-adversary-knows-that-an-american-official-has-deceived/) [Raja Krishnamoorthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raja-krishnamoorthi/) > [I am hopeful that both India and U.S.A. would be able to expand their counter-terror partnership through wider intelligence sharing and effective coordination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raja-krishnamoorthi/i-am-hopeful-that-both-india-and-u-s-a-would-be-able-to-expand-their/) [Raja Krishnamoorthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raja-krishnamoorthi/) > [Ultimately, much of the dysfunction in Congress is due to the impact of big money, which drowns out the voices of working families and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raja-krishnamoorthi/ultimately-much-of-the-dysfunction-in-congress-is-due-to-the-impact/) [Raja Krishnamoorthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raja-krishnamoorthi/) > [Illinois is home to a disproportionate share of Dreamers and would suffer a significant economic blow should they be compelled to leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raja-krishnamoorthi/illinois-is-home-to-a-disproportionate-share-of-dreamers-and-would/) [Raja Krishnamoorthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raja-krishnamoorthi/) [Explore all 99 Raja Krishnamoorthi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raja-krishnamoorthi/) ## More Founding fathers quotes > [It's interesting that the greatest minds of computer science, the founding fathers, like Alan Turing and Claude Shannon and Norbert Wiener, they all looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/it-s-interesting-that-the-greatest-minds-of-computer-science-the/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [My favorite Founding Fathers, Christians like John Adams, were absolutely appalled by slavery, and did not own slaves. 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Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“Our founding fathers placed so much emphasis on nurturing a well-educated populace because they knew that our system of democracy could not long survive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-carson/our-founding-fathers-placed-so-much-emphasis-on-nurturing-a-well/) [Ben Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-carson/) > [That government is best which governs the least, so taught the courageous founders of this nation. This simple declaration is diametrically opposed to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/that-government-is-best-which-governs-the-least-so-taught-the/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [I usually don't have a burger, a brat, and a steak but it is 4th of July. 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