“We who are liberal and progressive know that the poor are our equals in every sense except that of being equal to us. ”

“If there is no friendship with them [the poor] and no sharing of the life of the poor, then there is no authentic commitment to liberation, because love exists only among equals.”

“Our progress in degeneracy appears to me to be pretty rapid. As a nation, we began by declaring that 'all men are created equal.' We now practically read it, 'all men are created equal, except negroes.' When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read, 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty—to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”

“and the desire would never be satisfied, except by a being of equal greatness.”

“We each have our belssings and our curses. In the end it makes us equals.”

“Being strong is important. But knowing who you can count on is equally important”