We hear in these days a great deal respecting rights--the…
“We hear in these days a great deal respecting rights--the rights of private judgment, the rights of labor, the rights of property, and the rights of man. Rights are grand things, divine things in this world of God's; but the way in which we expound these rights, alas! seems to me to be the very incarnation of selfishness. I can see nothing very noble in a man who is forever going about calling for his own rights. Alas! alas! for the man who feels nothing more grand in this wondrous, divine world than his own rights.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Rights are noble, but obsessively demanding personal rights can become selfish, lacking higher moral purpose.
In simple terms: Excessive focus on personal rights can be selfish.
Key Takeaway
Balance personal rights with communal responsibilities.
Themes
ethics
philosophy
religion
Mood
contemplative
thoughtful
Type
theological
ethical
When to use this quote
- legal debates
- community building
- personal conduct
- spiritual reflection
Key Concepts
human nature
moral duty
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we honor rights without becoming self‑centered?
- What higher purposes should guide our claim to rights?
A Different Perspective
May ignore legitimate claims for justice.