---
title: "Les mortels sont egaux; ce n'est pas la naissance, C'est la seule ver… — Voltaire Quote #4 | QuotesBy.net"
description: "Les mortels sont egaux; ce n'est pas la naissance, C'est la seule vertu qui fait la difference. — a quote by Voltaire."
image: "https://quotesby.net/wp-content/themes/quotesby-editorial/assets/og-default.png"
---

> # Les mortels sont egaux; ce n'est pas la naissance, C'est la seule vertu qui fait la difference.

[Voltaire](https://quotesby.net/Voltaire)\#4

[Voltaire](https://quotesby.net/Voltaire/voltaire/)[Virtue](https://quotesby.net/Voltaire/virtue/)[Equality](https://quotesby.net/Voltaire/equality/)[Class](https://quotesby.net/topics/class/)[Merit](https://quotesby.net/topics/merit/)

[WhatsApp (opens in a new tab)](https://wa.me/?text=%E2%80%9CLes%20mortels%20sont%20egaux%3B%20ce%20n%27est%20pas%20la%20naissance%2C%20C%27est%20la%20seule%20vertu%20qui%20fait%20la%20difference.%E2%80%9D%20%E2%80%94%20Voltaire%20https%3A%2F%2Fquotesby.net%2FVoltaire%2F4%2F)[X (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%E2%80%9CLes%20mortels%20sont%20egaux%3B%20ce%20n%27est%20pas%20la%20naissance%2C%20C%27est%20la%20seule%20vertu%20qui%20fait%20la%20difference.%E2%80%9D%20%E2%80%94%20Voltaire&url=https%3A%2F%2Fquotesby.net%2FVoltaire%2F4%2F)[Facebook (opens in a new tab)](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fquotesby.net%2FVoltaire%2F4%2F)

## About this quote

What does it mean?Equality comes from virtue, not birthright.In plain termsBeing good makes you better than being born noble.What can you take from it?Merit should define status, not lineage.

### Where it applies

- debating society
- discussing merit
- challenging class

### Putting it to work

- value merit over status
- fight classism

### Questions to consider

- What defines worth?
- Is equality achievable?

### Another view

This ignores systemic barriers to developing virtue.

## More from Voltaire

1. > L'homme est libre au moment qu'il veut l'etre.

[Permalink to quote \#3](https://quotesby.net/Voltaire/3/ "Permalink to quote 3")
2. > Les anciens Romains elevaient des prodiges d'architecture pour faire combattre des betes.

[Permalink to quote \#5](https://quotesby.net/Voltaire/5/ "Permalink to quote 5")
3. > C'est un poids bien pesant qu'un nom trop tot fameux.

[Permalink to quote \#2](https://quotesby.net/Voltaire/2/ "Permalink to quote 2")

## Related quotes

1. > All men are equal before God: wisdom, talents, and virtue are the only difference between them.

[Napoleon Bonaparte](https://quotesby.net/Napoleon-Bonaparte)[Napoleon Bonaparte quote \#55](https://quotesby.net/Napoleon-Bonaparte/55/ "Permalink to quote 55")
2. > Will the people in the cheaper seats clap your hands? And the rest of you, if you'll just rattle your jewelry.

[John Lennon](https://quotesby.net/John-Lennon)[John Lennon quote \#1](https://quotesby.net/John-Lennon/1/ "Permalink to quote 1")
3. > The colour I think of little moment; and am of opinion with our friend Foote, respecting his negro friend, that a good dog, like a good candidate, cannot be of…

[Peter Beckford](https://quotesby.net/Peter-Beckford)[Peter Beckford quote \#1](https://quotesby.net/Peter-Beckford/1/ "Permalink to quote 1")

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "Quotation",
    "text": "Les mortels sont egaux; ce n'est pas la naissance, C'est la seule vertu qui fait la difference.",
    "url": "https://quotesby.net/Voltaire/4/",
    "spokenByCharacter": {
        "@type": "Person",
        "name": "Voltaire"
    }
}
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
    "itemListElement": [
        {
            "@type": "ListItem",
            "position": 1,
            "name": "Home",
            "item": "https://quotesby.net/"
        },
        {
            "@type": "ListItem",
            "position": 2,
            "name": "Authors",
            "item": "https://quotesby.net/authors/"
        },
        {
            "@type": "ListItem",
            "position": 3,
            "name": "Voltaire",
            "item": "https://quotesby.net/Voltaire"
        },
        {
            "@type": "ListItem",
            "position": 4,
            "name": "Quote #4",
            "item": "https://quotesby.net/Voltaire/4/"
        }
    ]
}
```