Be equaled?

Question

The astonishing contradictory variety of tastes and manner in the world can only be

equaled by the astonishing obstincy with which each society insists that they have

reason, and all the others are wrong.

Can I understand be equaled here means "take place" or "occur"?

Thanks in advance!

Avangi · Accepted Answer

I would say, "No."

B can equal A.

A can be equaled by B.

Among B, C, and D, only B can equal A.

Only B can equal A.

A can only be equaled by B. (A can be equaled only by B.)

I hope I haven't made it worse! - A.

Edit. If I may borrow from Ivahnr, The variety can be matched only by the obstinacy (and by nothing else).

We can argue about the placement of "only."

When you say "only equaled," it technically means that perhaps other things may match it, or even exdeed it; but the best the obstinacy can do is to match it, and the obstinacy cannot exceed the variety.

This is one of those errors which many people choose to ignore.

Ivanhr · Answer

No.

be equaled by = be matched by

The author compares the astonishing variety of tastes and manners in the world to the astonishing obstinacy mentioned in the second part of the sentence.

Ahelaumakani · Answer

I'm a native speaker and this sentence doesn't make sense to me. The construction is strange.

If I were to simplify it to what I think it's trying to say:

The contradictory rules of etiquette across the world can only be equaled by each culture's insistence that their way is proper, and all others are incorrect.

I looked up some quotes that use "equaled by" and my best guess is that having some many contradictory rules is bad and so is the unwillingness of cultures to be accepting of someone else's rules. As in, they are equally bad.

Avangi · Answer

AhelaumakaniThe contradictory rules of etiquette across the world can only be equaled by each culture's insistence that their way is proper, and all others are incorrect.

Hi.

It sounds like you're saying that to equal something is to correct it, or to improve it.

Best regards, - A.

Edit.Well, what I said is not correct either.

I guess what I object to in your formulation is your suggestion that "rules" can be equaled by "insistence."

I can't see any possible way to compare these two things.

In mariott's original example, we're comparing "variety" with "obstinacy," which is perhaps slightly more doable.

Mariott · Answer

Thanks Avangi, Ivanhr, and Ahelaumakani!

So, the paragraph means both variety and obstinacy are equally bad!

Avangi · Answer

That's correct.  [Y]

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