--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I say, 'I stand for equal rights,' I…" description: "\"When I say, 'I stand for equal rights,' I mean equal rights for all persons... from the moment of conception until natural death. I mean that I believe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a22/abby-johnson-4772_believe_when-i-say-i-stand-for-equal-rights-i-me_3189203.jpg" --- # When I say, 'I stand for equal rights,' I mean equal… ![“When I say, 'I stand for equal rights,' I mean equal rights for all persons... from the moment of conception until natural death. I mean that I believe in the equal human dignity of all persons, no matter the 'contribution' they make to society.” quote by Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a22/abby-johnson-4772_believe_when-i-say-i-stand-for-equal-rights-i-me_3189203.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a22/abby-johnson-4772_believe_when-i-say-i-stand-for-equal-rights-i-me_3189203.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a22/abby-johnson-4772_believe_when-i-say-i-stand-for-equal-rights-i-me_3189203.jpg) > “When I say, 'I stand for equal rights,' I mean equal rights for all persons... from the moment of conception until natural death. I mean that I believe in the equal human dignity of all persons, no matter the 'contribution' they make to society.” [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. Advocates for universal human dignity from conception to death, rejecting value judgments based on societal contribution. **In simple terms:** All humans deserve equal dignity always. Key Takeaway Respect every life equally. Themes human rights dignity life ethics Mood determined compassionate Type ethical activist When to use this quote - medical ethics - policy debates - personal interactions - public speaking Key Concepts pro-life activism humanism Questions to Reflect On - How do you define equal rights? - What challenges arise when applying this principle? A Different Perspective May overlook complexities of end‑of‑life decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignity/) [Equal rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal-rights/) [Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-dignity/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [If you believe in equal rights, then what do “women’s rights,” “gay rights,” etc., mean? Either they are redundant or they are violations of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/if-you-believe-in-equal-rights-then-what-do-women-s-rights-gay-rights/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/all-human-beings-are-born-free-and-equal-in-dignity-and-rights/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Rights mean you have a right to your life. You have a right to your liberty, and you should have a right to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/rights-mean-you-have-a-right-to-your-life-you-have-a-right-to-your/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [When we talk about 'reproductive rights' this is what we mean. It's the difference between people as objects, and people as agents: between regarding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nafis-sadik/when-we-talk-about-reproductive-rights-this-is-what-we-mean-it-s-the/) Nafis Sadik > [Human rights are particularly cherished by the West, which has never acknowledged economic rights. Human rights mean freedom from politcal oppression, tyranny and abuse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-seabrook/human-rights-are-particularly-cherished-by-the-west-which-has-never/) [Jeremy Seabrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-seabrook/) > [What is it about this ideological dream of the right to bear arms that overrides any other rights, I mean the rights to not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piers-morgan/what-is-it-about-this-ideological-dream-of-the-right-to-bear-arms/) [Piers Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piers-morgan/) > [By a declaration of rights, I mean one which shall stipulate freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of commerce against monopolies, trial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/by-a-declaration-of-rights-i-mean-one-which-shall-stipulate-freedom/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The rights of persons, and therights of property, are the objects, for the protection of which Government was instituted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-rights-of-persons-and-therights-of-property-are-the-objects-for/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Whilst the rights of all as persons are equal, in virtue of their access to reason, their rights in property are very unequal. Oneman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/whilst-the-rights-of-all-as-persons-are-equal-in-virtue-of-their/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Civil rights are civil rights. There are no persons who are not entitled to their civil rights. We have to recognize that we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-height/civil-rights-are-civil-rights-there-are-no-persons-who-are-not/) [Dorothy Height](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-height/) > [“most people do not want people with those values running around freely in society, especially when they threaten to self-harm or harm others when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-d-taylor/most-people-do-not-want-people-with-those-values-running-around/) [Thomas D. Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-d-taylor/) > [The rights of persons, and the rights of property, are the objects, for the protection of which Government was instituted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-rights-of-persons-and-the-rights-of-property-are-the-objects-for/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [And what sort of philosophical doctrine is thi - that numbers confer unlimited rights, that they take from some persons all rights over themselves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/auberon-herbert/and-what-sort-of-philosophical-doctrine-is-thi-that-numbers-confer/) [Auberon Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/auberon-herbert/) > [We need not concern ourselves much about rights of property if we faithfully observe the rights of persons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/we-need-not-concern-ourselves-much-about-rights-of-property-if-we/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [The state should never have instituted and enforced legal property rights in persons, and should not have been in the business of returning runaway…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/the-state-should-never-have-instituted-and-enforced-legal-property/) [Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/) ## 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. 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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 Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. 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He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. 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