"As we ascend the social ladder, viciousness wears a thicker mask"

This quote by Erich Fromm suggests that as people go up the social ladder, they become more likely to conceal their real objectives and sensations behind a mask of politeness and civility. This is since people in higher social positions are expected to behave in a particular way, and so they should place on an exterior of respectability and compassion. However, underneath this mask, Fromm suggests that individuals may still be driven by the same self-centered and destructive desires as those in lower social positions. This quote acts as a tip that individuals ought to not be evaluated exclusively by their social standing, as even those in the greatest positions might still be driven by their own selfish interests.