His lordship may compel us to be equal upstairs, but there will never be equality in the servants’ hall.
Meaning of the quote
The quote suggests that even though the person in charge may try to make everyone upstairs (the wealthy and powerful) seem equal, there will always be differences and unequal treatment downstairs (for the servants and less privileged). This means that even if the top of society tries to be fair, there will still be unfairness and inequality for those at the bottom.
About J. M. Barrie
J.M. Barrie was a Scottish novelist and playwright, best known as the creator of the beloved character Peter Pan. He wrote several successful novels and plays, and his work continues to inspire and delight readers and audiences around the world.
More quotes from J. M. Barrie
You must have been warned against letting the golden hours slip by. Yes, but some of them are golden only because we let them slip.
Scottish writer and playwright
Ambition it is the last infirmity of noble minds.
Scottish writer and playwright
We are all failures at least, all the best of us are.
Scottish writer and playwright
Every time a child says I don’t believe in fairies there is a fairy somewhere that falls down dead.
Scottish writer and playwright
His lordship may compel us to be equal upstairs, but there will never be equality in the servants’ hall.
Scottish writer and playwright
That is ever the way. Tis all jealousy to the bride and good wishes to the corpse.
Scottish writer and playwright
It’s a sort of bloom on a woman. If you have it, you don’t need to have anything else; and if you don’t have it, it doesn’t much matter what else you have.
Scottish writer and playwright
Every man who is high up likes to think he has done it all himself; and the wife smiles, and lets it go at that. It’s our only joke. Every woman knows that.
Scottish writer and playwright