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About this quote

What does it mean?
Equality may someday be a right, but no human power can turn it into fact.
In plain terms
Equality is hard to achieve despite legal rights.
What can you take from it?
Legal equality needs active enforcement.

Where it applies

  • policy making
  • civil rights movements

Putting it to work

  • advocacy
  • institutional reform

Questions to consider

  • Why does law lag behind principle?
  • What forces can bridge the gap?

Another view

Power structures often resist genuine equality.

More from Honore de Balzac

  1. La gloire est le soleil des morts.

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  2. Mes avis sur vos relations avec les femmes sont aussi dans ce mot de chevalerie: Les servir toutes, n'en aimer qu'une.

    Permalink to quote #8

  3. Tout pouvoir humain est un compose de patience et de temps.

    Permalink to quote #5

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