--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There slowly grew up in me an unshakable…" description: "\"There slowly grew up in me an unshakable conviction that we have no right to inflict suffering and death on another living creature, unless there is so..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/albert-schweitzer-701_conviction_there-slowly-grew-up-in-me-an-unshakable_3188266.jpg" --- # There slowly grew up in me an unshakable conviction that… ![“There slowly grew up in me an unshakable conviction that we have no right to inflict suffering and death on another living creature, unless there is some unavoidable necessity for it.” quote by Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/albert-schweitzer-701_conviction_there-slowly-grew-up-in-me-an-unshakable_3188266.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/albert-schweitzer-701_conviction_there-slowly-grew-up-in-me-an-unshakable_3188266.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/albert-schweitzer-701_conviction_there-slowly-grew-up-in-me-an-unshakable_3188266.jpg) > “There slowly grew up in me an unshakable conviction that we have no right to inflict suffering and death on another living creature, unless there is some unavoidable necessity for it.” [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author asserts a moral principle against causing suffering to other beings unless absolutely necessary. **In simple terms:** We should not cause suffering unless needed. Key Takeaway Practice compassion. Themes ethics animal rights philosophy Mood Reflective serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - Dietary choices - policy making - animal care Key Concepts Moral duty non‑violence stewardship Questions to Reflect On - What obligations do we have toward other species? - When is suffering justified? A Different Perspective Balancing human needs with animal welfare can be complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conviction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conviction/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Living creatures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-creatures/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Suffering and death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering-and-death/) [Unshakable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unshakable/) [Vegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vegan/) [Vegetarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vegetarian/) ## Related quotes > [The idea that we have the right to inflict suffering and death on other sentient beings for the trivial reasons of palate pleasure and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/the-idea-that-we-have-the-right-to-inflict-suffering-and-death-on/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [We see God and the devil making fools of each other, and we nurture in ourselves the absolutely unshakable conviction that both of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-wedekind/we-see-god-and-the-devil-making-fools-of-each-other-and-we-nurture-in/) [Frank Wedekind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-wedekind/) > [Freedom doesn't mean the absence of all restrictions. It means possessing unshakable conviction in the face of any obstacle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/freedom-doesn-t-mean-the-absence-of-all-restrictions-it-means/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [I think people can get a little weirded out by pain, suffering, and death. They don't know what to do so they end up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/i-think-people-can-get-a-little-weirded-out-by-pain-suffering-and/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [I became acquainted with those martyrs whose behavior in camp, whose suffering and death, bore witness to the fact that the last inner freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/i-became-acquainted-with-those-martyrs-whose-behavior-in-camp-whose/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [The abuse of love, like the abuse of health, brings suffering and death in its train.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliette-drouet/the-abuse-of-love-like-the-abuse-of-health-brings-suffering-and-death/) [Juliette Drouet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliette-drouet/) > [There is nothing we could do of greater importance than to have fortified in our individual lives an unshakable conviction that Jesus is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/there-is-nothing-we-could-do-of-greater-importance-than-to-have/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [Self trust is having an unshakable conviction in yourself that relies on no proof or evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/self-trust-is-having-an-unshakable-conviction-in-yourself-that-relies/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Freedom doesnt mean an absence of all restrictions. It means possessing unshakable conviction in the face of any obstacle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/freedom-doesnt-mean-an-absence-of-all-restrictions-it-means/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We shall match your capacity to inflict suffering by our capacity to endure suffering. We will meet your physical force with soul force. Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-shall-match-your-capacity-to-inflict-suffering-by-our-capacity-to/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The doctrine of a material hell in its effect was to chill and deaden the sympathies, predispose men to inflict suffering, and to retard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/the-doctrine-of-a-material-hell-in-its-effect-was-to-chill-and-deaden/) [William Edward Hartpole Lecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/) > [It is my hope that as the Negro plunges deeper into the quest for freedom and justice he will plunge even deeper into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-my-hope-that-as-the-negro-plunges-deeper-into-the-quest-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wish we didn't have to own up to a policy deliberately designed to inflict suffering on people who have already been traumatised in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-mackay/i-wish-we-didn-t-have-to-own-up-to-a-policy-deliberately-designed-to/) [Hugh Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-mackay/) > [“We will match your capacity to inflict suffering with our capacity to endure suffering. We will meet your physical force with Soul Force. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/we-will-match-your-capacity-to-inflict-suffering-with-our-capacity-to/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Perhaps it is only human nature to inflict suffering on anything that will endure suffering, whether by reason of its genuine humility, or indifference,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/perhaps-it-is-only-human-nature-to-inflict-suffering-on-anything-that/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## More by Albert Schweitzer > [Every patient carries her or his own doctor inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-patient-carries-her-or-his-own-doctor-inside/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Ethics is the activity of man directed to secure the inner perfection of his own personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-the-activity-of-man-directed-to-secure-the-inner-perfection/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Because I have confidence in the power of truth, and of the spirit, I have confidence in the future of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/because-i-have-confidence-in-the-power-of-truth-and-of-the-spirit-i/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Man's ethics must not end with man, but should extend to the universe. He must regain the consciousness of the great Chain of Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/man-s-ethics-must-not-end-with-man-but-should-extend-to-the-universe/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Sincerity is the foundation of the spiritual life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/sincerity-is-the-foundation-of-the-spiritual-life/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [I am life that wants to live, in the midst of life that wants to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/i-am-life-that-wants-to-live-in-the-midst-of-life-that-wants-to-live/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [“ Bauer 's 'Criticism of the Gospel History' is worth a good dozen Lives of Jesus, because his work, as we are only now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/bauer-s-criticism-of-the-gospel-history-is-worth-a-good-dozen-lives/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Ethics is in its unqualified form extended responsibility to everything that has life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-in-its-unqualified-form-extended-responsibility-to/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [The only way out of today's misery is for people to become worthy of each other's trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/the-only-way-out-of-today-s-misery-is-for-people-to-become-worthy-of/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [When we observe contemporary society one thing strikes us. We debate but make no progress. Why? Because as peoples we do not yet trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/when-we-observe-contemporary-society-one-thing-strikes-us-we-debate/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [For those who sincerely seek the truth should not fear the outcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/for-those-who-sincerely-seek-the-truth-should-not-fear-the-outcome/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [The ethic of Reverence for Life is the ethic of Love widened into universality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/the-ethic-of-reverence-for-life-is-the-ethic-of-love-widened-into/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [I still remain convinced that truth, love, peaceableness, meekness, and kindness are the violence which can master all other violence. The world will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/i-still-remain-convinced-that-truth-love-peaceableness-meekness-and/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Whatever you have received more than others-in health, in talents, in ability, in success, in a pleasant childhood, in harmonious conditions of home life-all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/whatever-you-have-received-more-than-others-in-health-in-talents-in/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Every start on an untrodden path is a venture which only in unusual circumstances looks sensible and likely to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-start-on-an-untrodden-path-is-a-venture-which-only-in-unusual/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) [Explore all 400 Albert Schweitzer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) ## More Conviction quotes > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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What is required is a profound and thorough conviction of the justice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-r-ambedkar/for-a-successful-revolution-it-is-not-enough-that-there-is-discontent/) [B. R. Ambedkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-r-ambedkar/) > ['Peace on earth, good will toward men' - democracy must cling to that message. For it is my deep conviction that democracy cannot live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/peace-on-earth-good-will-toward-men-democracy-must-cling-to-that/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [No physiologist who calmly considers the question in connection with the general truths of his science, can long resist the conviction that different parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/no-physiologist-who-calmly-considers-the-question-in-connection-with/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [ Beneath everything else, North and West, there ran a profound, unvoiced, almost subconscious conviction that the \[American\] nation was going to go on growing-in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-catton/beneath-everything-else-north-and-west-there-ran-a-profound-unvoiced/) [Bruce Catton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-catton/) > [Nor would anybody suspect. 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Allen Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-allen-lawson/) > [We need the conviction to be able to think for ourselves and to take action outof our own sense of responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/we-need-the-conviction-to-be-able-to-think-for-ourselves-and-to-take/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [The law of England has established trial by judge and jury in the conviction that it is the mode best calculated to ascertain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-bentham/the-law-of-england-has-established-trial-by-judge-and-jury-in-the/) [Jeremy Bentham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-bentham/) > [If you are going to flip something, you must have the courage of your convictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-child/if-you-are-going-to-flip-something-you-must-have-the-courage-of-your/) [Julia Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-child/) > [We embark unhesitatingly on the path, in a direction that is absolutely right and urgent, supported by everyone, in the knowledge that this path…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yehudi-menuhin/we-embark-unhesitatingly-on-the-path-in-a-direction-that-is/) [Yehudi Menuhin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yehudi-menuhin/) [Browse all 2,157 Conviction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conviction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There slowly grew up in me an unshakable conviction that we have no right to inflict suffering and death on another living creature, unless there is some unavoidable necessity for it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Albert Schweitzer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/there-slowly-grew-up-in-me-an-unshakable-conviction-that-we-have-no/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conviction" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/there-slowly-grew-up-in-me-an-unshakable-conviction-that-we-have-no/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/albert-schweitzer-701_conviction_there-slowly-grew-up-in-me-an-unshakable_3188266.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/albert-schweitzer-701_conviction_there-slowly-grew-up-in-me-an-unshakable_3188266.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/albert-schweitzer-701_conviction_there-slowly-grew-up-in-me-an-unshakable_3188266.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There slowly grew up in me an unshakable conviction that we have no right to inflict suffering and death on…” — Albert Schweitzer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Albert Schweitzer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There slowly grew up in me...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/there-slowly-grew-up-in-me-an-unshakable-conviction-that-we-have-no/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/there-slowly-grew-up-in-me-an-unshakable-conviction-that-we-have-no/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```