--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Inequality, then, is not just…" description: "\"“Inequality, then, is not just unattractive in itself; it clearly corresponds to pathological social problems that we cannot hope to address unless we ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80f/tony-judt-1730_death_inequality-then-is-not-just-unattractive_1911571.jpg" --- # Inequality, then, is not just unattractive in itself; it… ![“Inequality, then, is not just unattractive in itself; it clearly corresponds to pathological social problems that we cannot hope to address unless we attend to their underlying cause. There is a reason why infant mortality, life expectancy, criminality, the prison population, mental illness…” quote by Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80f/tony-judt-1730_death_inequality-then-is-not-just-unattractive_1911571.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80f/tony-judt-1730_death_inequality-then-is-not-just-unattractive_1911571.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80f/tony-judt-1730_death_inequality-then-is-not-just-unattractive_1911571.jpg) > ““Inequality, then, is not just unattractive in itself; it clearly corresponds to pathological social problems that we cannot hope to address unless we attend to their underlying cause. There is a reason why infant mortality, life expectancy, criminality, the prison population, mental illness, unemployment, obesity, malnutrition, teenage pregnancy, illegal drug use, economic insecurity, personal indebtedness and anxiety are so much more marked in the US and the UK than they are in continental Europe.”” [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Inequality is a symptom of deeper social dysfunction; addressing it requires tackling root causes like health, education, and economic security, not just the visible disparities. **In simple terms:** Inequality shows deeper social problems that need root‑cause solutions. Key Takeaway Target underlying social determinants. Themes social justice health economics Mood analytical concerned Type policy academic When to use this quote - public health planning - education reform - community development - policy analysis Key Concepts Structural inequality public policy Questions to Reflect On - What are the most effective levers for change? - How can societies prioritize root‑cause interventions? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on outcomes can ignore systemic drivers and lead to ineffective fixes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Drug use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug-use/) [Economic Insecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-insecurity-544407/) [Inequality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inequality/) [Inequality Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inequality-just-273509/) [Infant mortality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infant-mortality/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life expectancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-expectancy/) [Mental illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-illness/) [Pathological Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pathological-social-2882636/) [Social problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-problems/) [Teenage pregnancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teenage-pregnancy/) [Unemployment Obesity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unemployment-obesity-2882637/) ## Related quotes > [“We have entered an age of insecurity—economic insecurity, physical insecurity, political insecurity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/we-have-entered-an-age-of-insecurity-economic-insecurity-physical/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [“We must also consider inequality within and not just between countries. 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