Full Idea
There are many differences of degrees among men, for instance, some are soldiers, some are priests, some are princes. Therefore some special kind of right should be alloted to them.
Gist of Idea
People differ in their social degrees, and a particular type of right applies to each
Source
Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologicae [1265], II-II Q57 4)
Book Reference
Aquinas,Thomas: 'On Law, Morality and Politics', ed/tr. Baumgarth,W. /Regan R. [Hackett 1988], p.142
A Reaction
An objection (3), but Aquinas endorses it in his reply. In 58.10 he says striking a prince is worse that striking a commoner. The shift to the idea that everyone is supposed to be equal before the law has been slow, and we are not quite there yet.