This perceptive observation about human nature was made by Vermont-born American politician George Aiken, who was a member of the House of Representatives and a United States Senator. His assertion emphasizes how pervasive prejudices can be in society and implies that if we eradicate one set of individual differences, another will unavoidably replace it.

Aiken's remark is akin to pointing out that people still manage to differentiate apples based on their taste, scent, or place of cultivation, even when they appear to be identical from the outside. In a similar vein, people tend to classify and distinguish between people according to any available attribute, including appearance, beliefs, nationality, or socioeconomic standing.

Aiken, who was born in 1892, had a lengthy political career and was renowned for his practical approach to leadership. Before going on to serve in Washington, D.C., he was the governor of Vermont from 1943 to 1945. Years of observing how people interact and develop opinions about one another gave him an understanding of social dynamics.

The quote captures a larger worry that discrimination can stem from any perceived difference, no matter how minor or seemingly unimportant, and is not limited to obvious differences. This implies that although eradicating racial discrimination may appear to be a simple way to eradicate bias in all its manifestations, new sources of division are likely to arise due to the fundamental human propensity for classification and judgment.

Aiken's statement promotes a more nuanced approach to addressing prejudice in society by acknowledging this aspect of human behavior. It serves as a reminder that combating inequality necessitates constant work to comprehend and address various aspects of discrimination rather than concentrating only on one.