--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As they walked, Tehol spoke. ‘…the…" description: "\"“As they walked, Tehol spoke. ‘…the assumption is the foundation stone of Letherii society, perhaps all societies the world over. The notion of inequit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/steven-erikson-588_money_as-they-walked-tehol-spoke-the-assumptio_702448.jpg" --- # As they walked, Tehol spoke. ‘…the assumption is the… ![“As they walked, Tehol spoke. ‘…the assumption is the foundation stone of Letherii society, perhaps all societies the world over. The notion of inequity, my friends. For from inequity derives the concept of value, whether measured by money or the countless other means of gauging human worth. Simply…” quote by Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/steven-erikson-588_money_as-they-walked-tehol-spoke-the-assumptio_702448.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/steven-erikson-588_money_as-they-walked-tehol-spoke-the-assumptio_702448.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/steven-erikson-588_money_as-they-walked-tehol-spoke-the-assumptio_702448.jpg) > ““As they walked, Tehol spoke. ‘…the assumption is the foundation stone of Letherii society, perhaps all societies the world over. The notion of inequity, my friends. For from inequity derives the concept of value, whether measured by money or the countless other means of gauging human worth. Simply put, there resides in all of us the unchallenged belief that the poor and the starving are in some way deserving of their fate. In other words, there will always be poor people. A truism to grant structure to the continual task of comparison, the establishment through observation of not our mutual similarities, but our essential differences. ‘I know what you’re thinking, to which I have no choice but to challenge you both. Like this. Imagine walking down this street, doling out coins by the thousands. Until everyone here is in possession of vast wealth. A solution? No, you say, because among these suddenly rich folk there will be perhaps a majority who will prove wasteful, profligate and foolish, and before long they will be poor once again. Besides, if wealth were distributed in such a fashion, the coins themselves would lose all value—they would cease being useful. And without such utility, the entire social structure we love so dearly would collapse. ‘Ah, but to that I say, so what? There are other ways of measuring self-worth. To which you both heatedly reply: with no value applicable to labour, all sense of worth vanishes! And in answer to that I simply smile and shake my head. Labour and its product become the negotiable commodities. But wait, you object, then value sneaks in after all! Because a man who makes bricks cannot be equated with, say, a man who paints portraits. Material is inherently value-laden, on the basis of our need to assert comparison—but ah, was I not challenging the very assumption that one must proceed with such intricate structures of value? ‘And so you ask, what’s your point, Tehol? To which I reply with a shrug. Did I say my discourse was a valuable means of using this time? I did not. No, you assumed it was. Thus proving my point!’ ‘I’m sorry, master,’ Bugg said, ‘but what was that point again?’ ‘I forget. But we’ve arrived. Behold, gentlemen, the poor.”” [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage critiques how societies equate wealth with worth, arguing that value systems create inequality and can collapse if wealth is evenly distributed. **In simple terms:** Wealth and value are linked, creating social hierarchy. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about value and worth. Themes inequality value society economics philosophy Mood critical thoughtful Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - political debate - economic policy - social reform - philosophical discussion Key Concepts social hierarchy value theory economic distribution Questions to Reflect On - How do we define worth beyond material wealth? - Can societies function without hierarchical value systems? A Different Perspective Even equal wealth may not solve inequality; human nature seeks differentiation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inequity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inequity/) [Inequity Derives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inequity-derives-5559044/) [Inherently Value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inherently-value-5559046/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Notion Inequity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notion-inequity-5559045/) [Poor people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-people/) [Self worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-worth/) [Social structure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-structure/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [I was always clear that I didn't want to just do pure charity. 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Swaminathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-s-swaminathan/) > [...In a world riven by inequity, medicine could be viewed as social justice work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-farmer/in-a-world-riven-by-inequity-medicine-could-be-viewed-as-social/) [Paul Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-farmer/) > [Inequity solace in your driven state sieze your right to earn the same she wants it, how long must we wait till they take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quicksand/inequity-solace-in-your-driven-state-sieze-your-right-to-earn-the/) [Quicksand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quicksand/) > [“Justice is the state that exists when there is equity, balance, and harmony in relationships and in society. 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What a stupid question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/why-do-i-hate-spiders-gods-who-doesn-t-what-a-stupid-question/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [It is an extraordinary act of courage,' said Tulas Shorn, 'to come to know a stranger's pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/it-is-an-extraordinary-act-of-courage-said-tulas-shorn-to-come-to/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“I admit,’ said Spite, ‘to a certain melancholy when visiting vibrant cities, as is this Darujhistan. A long life teaches one just how ephemeral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/i-admit-said-spite-to-a-certain-melancholy-when-visiting-vibrant/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [All art is an intensely vulnerable gesture, and it is made with no small amounts of risk, and fear. 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S. Swaminathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-s-swaminathan/) > [America's education system has become less a ladder of opportunity than a structure to transmit inequity from one generation to the next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/america-s-education-system-has-become-less-a-ladder-of-opportunity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Silence is an argument in favor of the status quo. A refusal to address an inequity is a strategy for maintaining that inequity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pz-myers/silence-is-an-argument-in-favor-of-the-status-quo-a-refusal-to/) [PZ Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pz-myers/) [Browse all 41 Inequity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inequity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“As they walked, Tehol spoke. ‘…the assumption is the foundation stone of Letherii society, perhaps all societies the world over. The notion of inequity, my friends. For from inequity derives the concept of value, whether measured by money or the countless other means of gauging human worth. Simply put, there resides in all of us the unchallenged belief that the poor and the starving are in some way deserving of their fate. In other words, there will always be poor people. A truism to grant structure to the continual task of comparison, the establishment through observation of not our mutual similarities, but our essential differences. ‘I know what you’re thinking, to which I have no choice but to challenge you both. Like this. Imagine walking down this street, doling out coins by the thousands. Until everyone here is in possession of vast wealth. A solution? No, you say, because among these suddenly rich folk there will be perhaps a majority who will prove wasteful, profligate and foolish, and before long they will be poor once again. Besides, if wealth were distributed in such a fashion, the coins themselves would lose all value—they would cease being useful. And without such utility, the entire social structure we love so dearly would collapse. ‘Ah, but to that I say, so what? There are other ways of measuring self-worth. To which you both heatedly reply: with no value applicable to labour, all sense of worth vanishes! And in answer to that I simply smile and shake my head. Labour and its product become the negotiable commodities. But wait, you object, then value sneaks in after all! Because a man who makes bricks cannot be equated with, say, a man who paints portraits. Material is inherently value-laden, on the basis of our need to assert comparison—but ah, was I not challenging the very assumption that one must proceed with such intricate structures of value? ‘And so you ask, what’s your point, Tehol? To which I reply with a shrug. Did I say my discourse was a valuable means of using this time? I did not. No, you assumed it was. Thus proving my point!’ ‘I’m sorry, master,’ Bugg said, ‘but what was that point again?’ ‘I forget. But we’ve arrived. Behold, gentlemen, the poor.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steven Erikson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/as-they-walked-tehol-spoke-the-assumption-is-the-foundation-stone-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Inequity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/as-they-walked-tehol-spoke-the-assumption-is-the-foundation-stone-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/steven-erikson-588_money_as-they-walked-tehol-spoke-the-assumptio_702448.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/steven-erikson-588_money_as-they-walked-tehol-spoke-the-assumptio_702448.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/steven-erikson-588_money_as-they-walked-tehol-spoke-the-assumptio_702448.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As they walked, Tehol spoke. ‘…the assumption is the foundation stone of Letherii society, perhaps all…” — Steven Erikson", "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": "Steven Erikson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“As they walked, Tehol spoke. ‘…the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/as-they-walked-tehol-spoke-the-assumption-is-the-foundation-stone-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/as-they-walked-tehol-spoke-the-assumption-is-the-foundation-stone-of/#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 } } ] } ```