I believe in free education, free healthcare. But I do not believe in equality.

In this quote, Nicolas Winding Refn expresses his belief in the importance of free education and free healthcare, which are foundational elements of a social welfare system designed to provide equal opportunities and access for all individuals, regardless of their background or financial situation. However, he paradoxically states that he does not believe in equality, implying that while he supports certain rights and services for everyone, he may have reservations about achieving full social equality in other aspects of life.

Refn’s view could suggest a distinction between equality of opportunity—the idea that everyone should have access to the same resources, like education and healthcare—and equality of outcome—the notion that all individuals should end up in the same position or have the same results. By stating that he does not believe in equality, Refn might be questioning the feasibility or desirability of equalizing outcomes across various domains, such as wealth, success, or social status.

This quote reveals Refn’s perspective on how societies should be structured. While he supports policies that ensure everyone has access to basic necessities like education and healthcare, he may believe that individual effort, merit, or personal achievement should still play a significant role in shaping one’s future, which means not everyone will reach the same level of success or status. His stance could be interpreted as a critique of the idea of complete equality, which he may see as unrealistic or undesirable in a society that values personal freedom and individuality.

Ultimately, Refn’s statement points to the complex relationship between social justice and personal liberty. While advocating for certain universal services that ensure basic human dignity, his rejection of equality suggests a belief in a more differentiated society where people are not forced to be the same, but are instead allowed to strive for their own individual goals within a framework that provides essential public services.