Denmark was rich (by international comparison) and equality was a well established value long before the welfare state. A song written by one of the most popula

Denmark was rich (by international comparison) and equality was a well established value long before the welfare state. A song written by one of the most popular poets of the time, Grundtvig, in 1820, contained the line "Og da har i rigdom vi drevet det vidt, når få har for meget og færre for lidt." ("We have achieved much in wealth, when few has too much and still fewer too little". My translation does not do the poetic qualities of the original justice, but it's pretty accurate for content.)