In truth it is inequality that is the illusion. The extreme disproportion between men, that we seem to see in life, is a thing of changing lights and lengthening shadows, twilight full of fancies and distortions. We find a man famous and cannot live long enough to find him forgotten; we see a race dominant and cannot linger to see it decay. It is the experience of men that always returns to the equality of men; it is the average that ultimately justifies the average man, It is when men have seen and suffered much and come at the end of more elaborate experiments, that they see men as men under an equal light of death an daily laughter; and none the less mysterious for being many.
I interpret this passage as the author simply stating that you cannot have equality unless you have had experience inequality. It also suggests that you have to suffer before you can understand equality.
I believe that this passage has been integrated in our society forever. There are hundreds of scenarios where I can use this passage in everyday life. I can simplify it; where a person is told that the water is deep but doesn't believe until he gets in himself. Or more complicated, such as a race fighting for equality because they have suffered an inequality all their lives. In a broader understanding of Mr. Chesterton being ask certain questions upon entering the US, that he couldn't know the answer to until he experience it himself (or was unwilling to admit) was quite sufficient for that time and out of the ordinary in today standard. They have learned since then, hence forth the passage above. Experience!
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