Lazarus Long, as told to R. A. Heinlein Equality, in a social sense, may be divided into that of condition, and that of rights. Equality of condition is incompatible with civilization,and is found only to exist in those communities that are but slightly removed from the savage state. In practice, it can only mean a common misery. Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison. A conservative is a statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from the liberal who wishes to replace them with others.
Politicians are the same all over.
They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river. There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters. Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed, as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword, because the people are armed,and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops.