--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I’m asked today what someone might…" description: "\"“When I’m asked today what someone might have said to get me to change my mind about having either abortion, I tell them it would be this: ‘What do you..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/755/abby-johnson-4772_abortion_when-i-m-asked-today-what-someone-might_3054845.png" --- # When I’m asked today what someone might have said to get… ![“When I’m asked today what someone might have said to get me to change my mind about having either abortion, I tell them it would be this: ‘What do you think would disappoint your parents most? To find out that you’d gotten pregnant, or to learn that you had taken the life of their grandchild?” quote by Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/755/abby-johnson-4772_abortion_when-i-m-asked-today-what-someone-might_3054845.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/755/abby-johnson-4772_abortion_when-i-m-asked-today-what-someone-might_3054845.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/755/abby-johnson-4772_abortion_when-i-m-asked-today-what-someone-might_3054845.png) > ““When I’m asked today what someone might have said to get me to change my mind about having either abortion, I tell them it would be this: ‘What do you think would disappoint your parents most? To find out that you’d gotten pregnant, or to learn that you had taken the life of their grandchild?”” [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The core argument against abortion is framed as a question of disappointing parents by either pregnancy or the loss of a potential grandchild. **In simple terms:** Abortion debate framed as parental disappointment. Key Takeaway Consider the familial impact of abortion decisions. Themes ethics family dynamics pro‑life arguments Mood empathetic controversial Type ethical political When to use this quote - personal counseling - public policy debates - family discussions Key Concepts moral philosophy psychological impact Questions to Reflect On - How does this framing affect women’s choices? - What alternative arguments exist? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex personal circumstances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [I certainly would like to prevent, if I could legally, anybody having an abortion, a rich woman, a middle-class woman, or a poor woman.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hyde/i-certainly-would-like-to-prevent-if-i-could-legally-anybody-having/) [Henry Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hyde/) > [This is the thing I've never understood: If someone is going to hell for being gay or being a Jew or a Muslim or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/this-is-the-thing-i-ve-never-understood-if-someone-is-going-to-hell/) [Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/) > [It's nice when women fancy me, but I think I will only disappoint them so I prefer it if they don't know who I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-sewell/it-s-nice-when-women-fancy-me-but-i-think-i-will-only-disappoint-them/) [Rufus Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-sewell/) > [The thing is, one in three women in the Western world will end up having an abortion, but they never talk about it. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/the-thing-is-one-in-three-women-in-the-western-world-will-end-up/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) > [“We feel stuck in a rut, unable to say ‘no’ to our parents, unable to put an end to their controlling behavior, unable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukasz-laniecki/we-feel-stuck-in-a-rut-unable-to-say-no-to-our-parents-unable-to-put/) [Lukasz Laniecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukasz-laniecki/) > [“Let’s get something straight: I’m supposed to be the bad guy. I will always disappoint you. Your parents will hate me. You should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/let-s-get-something-straight-i-m-supposed-to-be-the-bad-guy-i-will-2/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [The last thing I ever want to do is disappoint my parents. If something ever happened to one of my parents, I'd want them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/the-last-thing-i-ever-want-to-do-is-disappoint-my-parents-if/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [“Doesn’t just about everybody disappoint their parents? They say all they want is for us to be happy, but what they really want is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-cook/doesn-t-just-about-everybody-disappoint-their-parents-they-say-all/) [Eileen Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-cook/) > [“Let's get something straight. I'm supposed to be the bad guy. I will always disappoint you. Your parents will hate me. You should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/let-s-get-something-straight-i-m-supposed-to-be-the-bad-guy-i-will/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [God, it sucks to disappoint your parents, even at forty-two years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-myracle/god-it-sucks-to-disappoint-your-parents-even-at-forty-two-years-old/) [Lauren Myracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-myracle/) > [One of the hard things coming from an immigrant family - or any family that doesn't believe in the arts - is that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-o-yang/one-of-the-hard-things-coming-from-an-immigrant-family-or-any-family/) [Jimmy O. Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-o-yang/) > [I never want to disappoint my parents, ever. They are people that I always look up to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-richie/i-never-want-to-disappoint-my-parents-ever-they-are-people-that-i/) [Nicole Richie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-richie/) > [I don't want to disappoint my parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-bargatze/i-don-t-want-to-disappoint-my-parents/) [Nate Bargatze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-bargatze/) > [Should Planned Parenthood be defunded, women will still have access to great quality healthcare. Speaking as a former Planned Parenthood director, I know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/should-planned-parenthood-be-defunded-women-will-still-have-access-to/) [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) > [The abortion facility in Texas where I worked for eight years closed after enough workers like me left. They closed because I finally spoke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/the-abortion-facility-in-texas-where-i-worked-for-eight-years-closed/) [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) ## More by Abby Johnson > [I had developed a relationship with one of the anti-abortion sidewalk counselors who stood in front of my facility. We talked regularly through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/i-had-developed-a-relationship-with-one-of-the-anti-abortion-sidewalk/) [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) > [I try not to go down the 'what if' road very often. It isn't fruitful and just makes you feel crummy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/i-try-not-to-go-down-the-what-if-road-very-often-it-isn-t-fruitful/) [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) > [The abortion facility in Texas where I worked for eight years closed after enough workers like me left. They closed because I finally spoke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/the-abortion-facility-in-texas-where-i-worked-for-eight-years-closed/) [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) > [Should Planned Parenthood be defunded, women will still have access to great quality healthcare. Speaking as a former Planned Parenthood director, I know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/should-planned-parenthood-be-defunded-women-will-still-have-access-to/) [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) > [I have daughters. They love Disney princesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/i-have-daughters-they-love-disney-princesses/) [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) > [Natural Family Planning works and is as effective, and sometimes more effective, than the birth control methods out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/natural-family-planning-works-and-is-as-effective-and-sometimes-more/) [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) > [I believe all children deserve quality health care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/i-believe-all-children-deserve-quality-health-care/) [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) > [If a woman goes to Planned Parenthood for birth control and discovers in the course of her visit that she has high blood pressure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/if-a-woman-goes-to-planned-parenthood-for-birth-control-and-discovers/) [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) > [An important part of my story is that I didn't walk out of Planned Parenthood immediately after witnessing the ultrasound-guided abortion. It is made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/an-important-part-of-my-story-is-that-i-didn-t-walk-out-of-planned/) [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) > [Abortion is a severely traumatic and potentially dangerous procedure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/abortion-is-a-severely-traumatic-and-potentially-dangerous-procedure/) [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) > [While I am a pro-life woman, I am also a woman who is concerned about rights for the disabled, maternity leave, the death penalty,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/while-i-am-a-pro-life-woman-i-am-also-a-woman-who-is-concerned-about/) [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) > [I have a nationally distributed film whose pivotal scene is the ultrasound-guided abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/i-have-a-nationally-distributed-film-whose-pivotal-scene-is-the/) [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) > [I wish I had a dollar for every pro-choicer who told me that abortion has to be accessible for poor women... as if being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/i-wish-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-pro-choicer-who-told-me-that-abortion/) [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) > [I didn't want to be pro-life. I hated the pro-life movement. I had been taught to hate them. I thought they hated me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/i-didn-t-want-to-be-pro-life-i-hated-the-pro-life-movement-i-had-been/) [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) > [I worked at Planned Parenthood for eight years, rising through the ranks from volunteer escort to clinic counselor to clinic director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/i-worked-at-planned-parenthood-for-eight-years-rising-through-the/) [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) [Explore all 106 Abby Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) ## More Abortion quotes > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974 > [Hey everyone, in case y'all didn't hear, I'm pregnat, and after discussing it w/ my family, I've decided to get an abortion, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-badesheim/hey-everyone-in-case-y-all-didn-t-hear-i-m-pregnat-and-after/) Madison Badesheim > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [My favorite Founding Fathers, Christians like John Adams, were absolutely appalled by slavery, and did not own slaves. I think we're going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/my-favorite-founding-fathers-christians-like-john-adams-were/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [“David Bereit, Founder of Forty Days for Life, points out that any abortion clinic in America should have a sign in its window that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-price/david-bereit-founder-of-forty-days-for-life-points-out-that-any/) [John Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-price/) > [The Chinese describe themselves as political refugees. Many base that claim on China's strict population laws, which allow them to have only one child.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/the-chinese-describe-themselves-as-political-refugees-many-base-that/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [I'm a pro-life candidate because I believe that science is proving us right every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-m-a-pro-life-candidate-because-i-believe-that-science-is-proving-us/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [I've noticed that everyone who is for abortion…has been born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-noticed-that-everyone-who-is-for-abortion-has-been-born/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [We talk a lot about how abortion is a medical procedure, but actually if you look at what the other side is doing, they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-northup/we-talk-a-lot-about-how-abortion-is-a-medical-procedure-but-actually/) [Nancy Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-northup/) > [“The Vatican won't prosecute pedophile priests but I decide I'm not ready for motherhood and it's condemnation for me? These are the same people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-renee-taylor/the-vatican-won-t-prosecute-pedophile-priests-but-i-decide-i-m-not/) Sonya Renee Taylor > [Pro-lifers have long been castigated for bringing private values into the public square. But actually it is the pro-abortion position that is based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/pro-lifers-have-long-been-castigated-for-bringing-private-values-into/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [I am 100 percent pro-life and have been my whole life. That means I am opposed to abortion at any stage of pregnancy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hawley/i-am-100-percent-pro-life-and-have-been-my-whole-life-that-means-i-am/) [Josh Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hawley/) > [Any woman should have the right to a safe and legal abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-ford/any-woman-should-have-the-right-to-a-safe-and-legal-abortion/) [Betty Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-ford/) > [“For Republicans, life begins at conception but ends at birth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-adam-snyder/for-republicans-life-begins-at-conception-but-ends-at-birth/) [J.Adam Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-adam-snyder/) > [I think fundamentally, the real power behind the anti-choice movement in regard to abortion and the opposition to the rights of LGBT Americans is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-w-lynn/i-think-fundamentally-the-real-power-behind-the-anti-choice-movement/) [Barry W. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-w-lynn/) [Browse all 1,629 Abortion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When I’m asked today what someone might have said to get me to change my mind about having either abortion, I tell them it would be this: ‘What do you think would disappoint your parents most? 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