Prince Philip Quotes

I was no Marie Antoinette. I was not born to nobility, but I had a human right to nobility.

Aristocracy is naturally abhorrent to me, and adored equality is my idol.

A Plowman on his knees is higher than a Gentleman on his legs.

Of all the hokum with which this country [America] is riddled, the most odd is the common notion that it is free of class distinctions.

For many centuries Chinese society has been free of class distinctions such as are found even in advanced democracies.

Actual aristocracy cannot be abolished by any law: all the law can do is decree how it is to be imparted and who is to acquire it.

I like aristocracy. I like the beauty of aristocracy. I like the hierarchical feeling.

Of course, in the United States, which at the time was a very young country, there were also class distinctions. They weren't as pronounced, but they quickly evolved as well.

'Downton Abbey' is a pageant, a cavalcade of a time when being born right is the first and most irrevocable career move, and in which an older order - whose passing 'Downton's' creator, Julian Fellowes, clearly mourns - is submerging in icy seas as surely as a grand and extravagant ocean liner.

Americans sometimes say to me that they have no class system themselves. All human beings have class systems. It can be based on a different thing in a different country, but the thing about breeding is, you can't buy it. You can't buy class.

Our aristocracy, unlike that of Europe, is open to all comers.

It has often been said, that there is but one rank of men in America… we have no artificial distinctions of men into noblemen and commoners among us, but it ought to be remarked, that superior degrees of industry and capacity, and above all, commerce, have introduced inequality of property among us, and these have introduced natural distinctions of rank in Pennsylvania, as certain and general as the artificial distinctions of men in Europe. This will ever be the case while commerce exists in this country.

All shall equal be. The Earl, the Marquis, and the Dook, The Groom, the Butler, and the Cook, The Aristocrat who banks with Coutts, The Aristocrat who cleans the boots.

There is also an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents;... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government, and provision should be made to prevent its ascendancy.

On the battlefield, there is no distinction between upper and lower class.

In this country there is no rank but rank mutton.

There is no distinction of persons among them, and deference is shown to merit rather than to noble blood.

Keep up the middle class; lop off aristocracy on the one hand, and a rabble at the other; let the middle class ... have the power.

The great families have their privileges.

The tradesmen are the only gentry in England.

Noble and common blood is of the same color.

The surface of American society is covered with a layer of democratic paint, but from time to time one can see the old aristocratic colors breaking through.

Englishmen hate Liberty and Equality too much to understand them. But every Englishman loves a pedigree.

The landed men are the true owners of our political vessel, the moneyed men are no more than passengers in it.

Chivalry only worked with men of the same class.