"Equality is an ugly word and shouldn't be used.

It misleads, and frightens, and is a bugbear.

And she, in using it, had not perhaps a clearly defined meaning for it in her own mind.

But the wish of every honest man should be to assist in lifting up those below him, till they be something nearer his own level than he finds them." To this Phineas assented,--and by degrees he found himself assenting to a great many things that Mr.Monk said to him.
Mr.Monk was a thin, tall, gaunt man, who had devoted his whole life to politics, hitherto without any personal reward beyond that which came to him from the reputation of his name, and from the honour of a seat in Parliament.

He was one of four or five brothers,--and all besides him were in trade.