“That's how the world is: one has, another hasn't.”Ion Luca Caragiale · Momente și schițe · 1901 · Grand Hotel „Victoria
Inequality is a permanent condition of society, accepted as a natural state.
The same observation as the previous quote, but more general: some have, others don't. Caragiale doesn't explain why; he notes a social fact that characters accept as an unwritten law. It's an ironic and sad look at a society where wealth and lack coexist without revolt.
Caragiale sees inequality as a fact, not as a problem. His characters do not rebel; they accept it. It is like when someone cuts in line for bread and nobody says a word. This acceptance is more dangerous than inequality itself. Because if we do not name it, we cannot change it either. How could we break this silence?
Why it matters Today, the phrase can be a starting point for discussing social justice and how we respond to inequality.