This quote by Samuel Johnson highlights the inherent hypocrisy and contradiction often found in those who seek to impose equality or leveling measures upon others. The term 'levellers' refers to individuals or groups advocating for reducing disparities, whether social, economic, or political. Johnson suggests that while these levellers may aim to bring everyone down to a certain level, they are generally unwilling or unable to elevate others to their own standing. The core insight here is the human tendency to resist upward mobility — people often prefer to see others brought down rather than themselves being lifted up.

This perspective sheds light on some of the social and political dynamics at play when equality movements encounter resistance. It implies that some activists, leaders, or groups might not truly aim for genuine fairness or justice but rather for a form of domination, where they consolidate their own status while discouraging others from rising.

Furthermore, this quote touches on the psychological aspects of status and self-perception. People tend to resist losing their position or privilege, and this resistance can manifest as a reluctance to support efforts that would benefit others by elevating their status overcrowding the social hierarchy. Similarly, it reflects a broader human tendency to prefer comfort in familiarity or dominance over the discomfort of redistribution or transformation.

Overall, Johnson's words remind us to critically examine motivations behind social and political reforms and to recognize the underlying human fears associated with change—fear of losing position or control, and discomfort with elevating others as it might threaten our own dignities or privileges.