--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When there is oppression and…" description: "\"When there is oppression and dictatorship, by not speaking out, we lose our dignity.\" — Asma Jahangir" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c95/asma-jahangir-9161_dictatorship_when-there-is-oppression-and-dictatorshi_913338.jpg" --- # When there is oppression and dictatorship, by not speaking… ![“When there is oppression and dictatorship, by not speaking out, we lose our dignity.” quote by Asma Jahangir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c95/asma-jahangir-9161_dictatorship_when-there-is-oppression-and-dictatorshi_913338.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c95/asma-jahangir-9161_dictatorship_when-there-is-oppression-and-dictatorshi_913338.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c95/asma-jahangir-9161_dictatorship_when-there-is-oppression-and-dictatorshi_913338.jpg) > “When there is oppression and dictatorship, by not speaking out, we lose our dignity.” [Asma Jahangir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asma-jahangir/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Silence under oppression erodes personal dignity, emphasizing the moral duty to speak out against tyranny. **In simple terms:** Not speaking up under dictatorships harms one's self-respect. Key Takeaway Speak out to preserve dignity. Themes justice courage human rights Mood determined urgent Type ethical political When to use this quote - activism - journalism - public protest Key Concepts moral responsibility political oppression Questions to Reflect On - What risks are you willing to take to defend dignity? - How can societies protect those who speak out? A Different Perspective Fear of retaliation can silence voices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dictatorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictatorship/) [Dictatorship Speaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictatorship-speaking-1355940/) [Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignity/) [Lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lose/) [Lose Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lose-dignity-398906/) [Oppression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppression/) [Oppression Dictatorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppression-dictatorship-1355939/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) ## Related quotes > [I think that sexual oppression and dictatorship go hand in hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hefner/i-think-that-sexual-oppression-and-dictatorship-go-hand-in-hand/) [Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) > [A celebrated people lose dignity upon a closer view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/a-celebrated-people-lose-dignity-upon-a-closer-view/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [We lose dignity if we tolerate the intolerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-de-menil/we-lose-dignity-if-we-tolerate-the-intolerable/) [Dominique de Menil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-de-menil/) > [“Our institutions are too big; they represent not the best but the worst characteristics of human beings. By submitting to huge hierarchies of power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/our-institutions-are-too-big-they-represent-not-the-best-but-the/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [Don't lose your dignity and self-respect trying to make people love and appreciate you , when they aren't just capable .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-lose-your-dignity-and-self-respect-trying-to-make-people-love-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Classy women never lose their dignity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/classy-women-never-lose-their-dignity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is dignity in being a celebrity. Let us not lose that dignity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjay-leela-bhansali/there-is-dignity-in-being-a-celebrity-let-us-not-lose-that-dignity/) [Sanjay Leela Bhansali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjay-leela-bhansali/) > [What should move us to action is human dignity: the inalienable dignity of the oppressed, but also the dignity of each of us. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-de-menil/what-should-move-us-to-action-is-human-dignity-the-inalienable/) [Dominique de Menil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-de-menil/) > [People of a vertain rank will always keep a cool distance from common people, as if they were afraid to lose their dignity by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/people-of-a-vertain-rank-will-always-keep-a-cool-distance-from-common/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Have your own doctor, who answers to you. If you don't, when the time comes that you get mixed up with hospitals, they'll treat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-louise-delany/have-your-own-doctor-who-answers-to-you-if-you-don-t-when-the-time/) [Sarah Louise Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-louise-delany/) > [Watching a person lose their dignity used to be uncomfortable, and now it's an expected part of the program that we're becoming comfortable with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kudrow/watching-a-person-lose-their-dignity-used-to-be-uncomfortable-and-now/) [Lisa Kudrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kudrow/) > [Don't lose your dignity and self respect trying to make people love and appreciate you, when they just aren't capable...!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-lose-your-dignity-and-self-respect-trying-to-make-people-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't lose your dignity and self-respect to make trying people love you and appreciate you,when they just aren't capable..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-lose-your-dignity-and-self-respect-to-make-trying-people-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't beg for anything, you lose in both situations. If they give in, you lose your dignity. If they don't give in, you'll feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/don-t-beg-for-anything-you-lose-in-both-situations-if-they-give-in/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Comedy is essentially about watching a bunch of people who you really love lose their dignity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-dunbar/comedy-is-essentially-about-watching-a-bunch-of-people-who-you-really/) [Adrian Dunbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-dunbar/) ## More by Asma Jahangir > [I am so proud of Pakistanis and specifically of our lawyers for speaking out and getting their heads bashed in for a better Pakistan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asma-jahangir/i-am-so-proud-of-pakistanis-and-specifically-of-our-lawyers-for/) [Asma Jahangir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asma-jahangir/) > [A really responsible court will never give an order it knows will not be implemented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asma-jahangir/a-really-responsible-court-will-never-give-an-order-it-knows-will-not/) [Asma Jahangir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asma-jahangir/) > [I think I have lived enough in this country where I can say what I think is true and which is the voice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asma-jahangir/i-think-i-have-lived-enough-in-this-country-where-i-can-say-what-i/) [Asma Jahangir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asma-jahangir/) > [When General Musharraf took over, the Bar Association was among the first of some of the institutions that said they would not accept the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asma-jahangir/when-general-musharraf-took-over-the-bar-association-was-among-the/) [Asma Jahangir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asma-jahangir/) > [Terrorism does not disappear with revenge tactics but through making justice and equality before law a reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asma-jahangir/terrorism-does-not-disappear-with-revenge-tactics-but-through-making/) [Asma Jahangir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asma-jahangir/) > [I am certainly not a martyr kind of a person. I love my life. But if one has to, then there is nothing more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asma-jahangir/i-am-certainly-not-a-martyr-kind-of-a-person-i-love-my-life-but-if/) [Asma Jahangir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asma-jahangir/) > [She is absolutely inspiring. Malala is a vindication of our struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asma-jahangir/she-is-absolutely-inspiring-malala-is-a-vindication-of-our-struggle/) [Asma Jahangir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asma-jahangir/) > [I cannot bear to live where there is so much injustice and I cannot do something about it. What kind of a torturous life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asma-jahangir/i-cannot-bear-to-live-where-there-is-so-much-injustice-and-i-cannot/) [Asma Jahangir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asma-jahangir/) > [I don't need a certificate of my patriotism from those in the establishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asma-jahangir/i-don-t-need-a-certificate-of-my-patriotism-from-those-in-the/) [Asma Jahangir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asma-jahangir/) > [Attempts are being made to turn Pakistan into a security state. If they succeed they should better rename it 'ISIstan.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asma-jahangir/attempts-are-being-made-to-turn-pakistan-into-a-security-state-if/) [Asma Jahangir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asma-jahangir/) > [Religiosity is suffocating in Pakistan. It invariably stokes the fire in driving society to religious extremism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asma-jahangir/religiosity-is-suffocating-in-pakistan-it-invariably-stokes-the-fire/) [Asma Jahangir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asma-jahangir/) > [I've been jailed once, put in police lock-up twice, and was under house arrest twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asma-jahangir/i-ve-been-jailed-once-put-in-police-lock-up-twice-and-was-under-house/) [Asma Jahangir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asma-jahangir/) > [Divorce is the cheapest thing in Pakistan. About 30 cents. Cheaper than fish and chips. I've had clients married to very rich men for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asma-jahangir/divorce-is-the-cheapest-thing-in-pakistan-about-30-cents-cheaper-than/) [Asma Jahangir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asma-jahangir/) > [Everything is a risk in Pakistan: If you defend women, it's a risk. If you defend non-Muslims it's a risk. If you discuss religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asma-jahangir/everything-is-a-risk-in-pakistan-if-you-defend-women-it-s-a-risk-if/) [Asma Jahangir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asma-jahangir/) > [The way my father worked altruistically and the manner in which he used to go behind bars and come back home smilingly was inspirational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asma-jahangir/the-way-my-father-worked-altruistically-and-the-manner-in-which-he/) [Asma Jahangir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asma-jahangir/) [Explore all 75 Asma Jahangir quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asma-jahangir/) ## More Dictatorship quotes > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Dictatorship is rule based directly upon force and unrestricted by any laws. The revolutionary dictatorship of the proletariat is rule won and maintained by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/dictatorship-is-rule-based-directly-upon-force-and-unrestricted-by/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [I was born in Cuba. At the age of 14 years of age I was involved in a revolution. We were suffering from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-was-born-in-cuba-at-the-age-of-14-years-of-age-i-was-involved-in-a/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The situation with Tibet has to change. China is one of the last huge dictatorships, holding on to these colonies, provinces. That has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/the-situation-with-tibet-has-to-change-china-is-one-of-the-last-huge/) [Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/) > [Motherland is our property and we have right to handle our properties as pleased. The jokes about death for the sake of the motherland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/motherland-is-our-property-and-we-have-right-to-handle-our-properties/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Your best friends are your principles, if you havent them, dont look for another friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/your-best-friends-are-your-principles-if-you-havent-them-dont-look/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“. Despite the considerable horror they had felt when the SA men were bellowing crude anti-Semitic slogans, in retrospect the joke-tellers were very much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolph-herzog/despite-the-considerable-horror-they-had-felt-when-the-sa-men-were/) [Rudolph Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolph-herzog/) > [A strong saying is not afraid of criticism, because it includes all the answers to criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-strong-saying-is-not-afraid-of-criticism-because-it-includes-all/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [The dictatorship of the proletariat and the leadership of the Marxist-Leninist party are indispensable conditions for the triumph of the Socialist revolution and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-khrushchev/the-dictatorship-of-the-proletariat-and-the-leadership-of-the-marxist/) [Nikita Khrushchev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikita-khrushchev/) > [I never thought about becoming a politician. But during the military dictatorship, my grandfather was put in prison six times and my father twice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/i-never-thought-about-becoming-a-politician-but-during-the-military/) [George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/) > [ “\[...\] dictatorship, the most extreme form of tyranny, can never lead to social liberation.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/dictatorship-the-most-extreme-form-of-tyranny-can-never-lead-to/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I'm not a prophet, but I always thought it was natural for dictatorships to fall. I remember in 1989, two months before the fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/i-m-not-a-prophet-but-i-always-thought-it-was-natural-for/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [In many ways, the media today makes dictatorship impossible. But it also makes democracy intolerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/in-many-ways-the-media-today-makes-dictatorship-impossible-but-it/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [“Your law always does more harm than crime, and your morality is a form of violence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bond/your-law-always-does-more-harm-than-crime-and-your-morality-is-a-form/) [Edward Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bond/) > [Something that comes to us, some gym shoe that comes to us as a result of child labor from a brutal dictatorship, where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/something-that-comes-to-us-some-gym-shoe-that-comes-to-us-as-a-result/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) [Browse all 793 Dictatorship quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictatorship/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When there is oppression and dictatorship, by not speaking out, we lose our dignity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Asma Jahangir" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asma-jahangir/when-there-is-oppression-and-dictatorship-by-not-speaking-out-we-lose/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dictatorship" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asma-jahangir/when-there-is-oppression-and-dictatorship-by-not-speaking-out-we-lose/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c95/asma-jahangir-9161_dictatorship_when-there-is-oppression-and-dictatorshi_913338.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c95/asma-jahangir-9161_dictatorship_when-there-is-oppression-and-dictatorshi_913338.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c95/asma-jahangir-9161_dictatorship_when-there-is-oppression-and-dictatorshi_913338.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When there is oppression and dictatorship, by not speaking out, we lose our dignity.” — Asma Jahangir", "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": "Asma Jahangir", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asma-jahangir/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When there is oppression and dictatorship,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asma-jahangir/when-there-is-oppression-and-dictatorship-by-not-speaking-out-we-lose/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asma-jahangir/when-there-is-oppression-and-dictatorship-by-not-speaking-out-we-lose/#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 } } ] } ```