--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In a system which denies the existence of…" description: "\"In a system which denies the existence of basic human rights, fear tends to be the order of the day. The only real prison is fear, and the only real f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dee/aung-san-suu-kyi-922_basic-human-rights_in-a-system-which-denies-the-existence-o_1705532.jpg" --- # In a system which denies the existence of basic human… ![“In a system which denies the existence of basic human rights, fear tends to be the order of the day. The only real prison is fear, and the only real freedom is freedom from fear. Never let fear prevent you from doing right.” quote by Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dee/aung-san-suu-kyi-922_basic-human-rights_in-a-system-which-denies-the-existence-o_1705532.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dee/aung-san-suu-kyi-922_basic-human-rights_in-a-system-which-denies-the-existence-o_1705532.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dee/aung-san-suu-kyi-922_basic-human-rights_in-a-system-which-denies-the-existence-o_1705532.jpg) > “In a system which denies the existence of basic human rights, fear tends to be the order of the day. The only real prison is fear, and the only real freedom is freedom from fear. Never let fear prevent you from doing right.” [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear becomes the dominant force when rights are denied, imprisoning people; true liberty is freedom from fear and acting rightly despite it. **In simple terms:** Fear dominates without rights; freedom is being unafraid to do right. Key Takeaway Act despite fear. Themes human rights fear freedom Mood determined hopeful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - activism - legal advocacy - personal decision making - community organizing Key Concepts psychology political oppression courage Questions to Reflect On - How does fear shape your choices? - What does freedom from fear look like in daily life? A Different Perspective Fear can also motivate caution, leading to paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basic human rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basic-human-rights/) [Doing right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-right/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Human rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-rights/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison/) [Real freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-freedom/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) ## Related quotes > [The only real prison is fear, and the only real freedom is freedom from fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/the-only-real-prison-is-fear-and-the-only-real-freedom-is-freedom/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [“Within a system which denies the existence of basic human rights, fear tends to be the order of the day. 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Your fear creates a willingness to self-imprison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/sometimes-the-prison-of-fear-is-so-powerful-theres-no-need-to-lock/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“I lost so many blessings while confined in the prison of my fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-e-ladd/i-lost-so-many-blessings-while-confined-in-the-prison-of-my-fear/) Sarah E. Ladd > [I place these numbed wrists to the pane watching white uniforms whisk over him in the tube-kept prison fear what they will do in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-place-these-numbed-wrists-to-the-pane-watching-white-uniforms-whisk/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Aung San Suu Kyi > [The best way to help Burma is to empower the people of Burma, to help us have enough self-confidence to obtain what we want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/the-best-way-to-help-burma-is-to-empower-the-people-of-burma-to-help/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [Taking sides cannot bring peace and balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/taking-sides-cannot-bring-peace-and-balance/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [It is often in the name of cultural integrity as well as social stability and national security that democratic reforms based on human rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/it-is-often-in-the-name-of-cultural-integrity-as-well-as-social/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [Fear is a habit; I am not afraid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/fear-is-a-habit-i-am-not-afraid/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [Of course I regret not having been able to spend time with my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/of-course-i-regret-not-having-been-able-to-spend-time-with-my-family/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [Fearlessness may be a gift but perhaps more precious is the courage acquired through endeavour, courage that comes from cultivating the habit of refusing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/fearlessness-may-be-a-gift-but-perhaps-more-precious-is-the-courage/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [“In one of her letters she writes: Some have questioned the appropriateness of talking about such matters as metta (loving-kindness) and thissa (truth) in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/in-one-of-her-letters-she-writes-some-have-questioned-the/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [Burmese authors and artists can play the role that artists everywhere play. They help to mold the outlook of a society - not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/burmese-authors-and-artists-can-play-the-role-that-artists-everywhere/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [After all it was my father who founded the Burmese army and I do have a sense of warmth towards the Burmese army.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/after-all-it-was-my-father-who-founded-the-burmese-army-and-i-do-have/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [A most insidious form of fear is that which masquerades as common sense or even wisdom, condemning as foolish, reckless, insignificant or futile the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/a-most-insidious-form-of-fear-is-that-which-masquerades-as-common/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [If you give in to intimidation, you'll go on being intimidated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/if-you-give-in-to-intimidation-you-ll-go-on-being-intimidated/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [I don't want to see the military falling. 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The understanding that what is good supports basic human rights and anything that threatens it is bad. 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Everything is war. Me say war.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/until-the-philosophy-which-hold-one-race-superior-and-another/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ “\[T\]here are some human rights that are so deep that we can't negotiate them away. I mean people do heinous, terrible things. But there… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sister-helen-prejean/t-here-are-some-human-rights-that-are-so-deep-that-we-can-t-negotiate/) Sister Helen Prejean > [The federal government has no business in restricting basic human rights based on sexual orientation, and I am ready to protect equality at every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-hill/the-federal-government-has-no-business-in-restricting-basic-human/) [Katie Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-hill/) > [Their prejudice allowed white Southerners to look the other way when blacks were denied their most basic human rights, and it encouraged the worst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-chavez/their-prejudice-allowed-white-southerners-to-look-the-other-way-when/) [Linda Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-chavez/) > [That until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned: That until there are no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-selassie/that-until-the-philosophy-which-holds-one-race-superior-and-another/) [Haile Selassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie/) > [We must build a movement for education, not incarceration. 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