Tous les hommes seraient donc necessairement egaux, s'ils etaient sans besoins. La misere attachee a notre espece subordonne un homme a un autre homme: ce n'est pas l'inegalite qui est un malheur reel, c'est la dependance.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Voltaire argues that inequality arises from human needs and dependence, not from nature itself. True misfortune lies in relying on others rather than in unequal status.
- In plain terms
- We are unequal because we need things from each other.
- What can you take from it?
- Dependence is the real source of human suffering.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What would a society without needs look like?
- Is dependence inherently negative?
Another view
Needs may not be the only cause of inequality.
More from Voltaire
Sa reputation s'affermira toujours, parce qu'on ne le lit guere.
Permalink to quote #62 Telle est donc la condition humaine que souhaiter la grandeur de son pays, c'est souhaiter du mal a ses voisins.
Permalink to quote #64 On dit quelquefois: 'Le sens commun est fort rare.'
Permalink to quote #61
Related quotes
While we maintain the unity of the human species, we at the same time repel the depressing assumption of superior and inferior races of men. There are nations …
Alexander von HumboldtAlexander von Humboldt quote #8 Man must first live before he can live abundantly.
Aneurin BevanAneurin Bevan quote #12 If we would indicate an idea which, throughout the whole course of history, has ever more and more widely extended its empire, or which, more than any other, t…
Wilhelm von HumboldtWilhelm von Humboldt quote #26