--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Within a system which denies the…" description: "\"“Within a system which denies the existence of basic human rights, fear tends to be the order of the day. Fear of imprisonment, fear of torture, fear o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0a/aung-san-suu-kyi-922_basic-human-rights_within-a-system-which-denies-the-existen_1397857.jpg" --- # Within a system which denies the existence of basic human… ![“Within a system which denies the existence of basic human rights, fear tends to be the order of the day. Fear of imprisonment, fear of torture, fear of death, fear of losing friends, family, property or means of livelihood, fear of poverty, fear of isolation, fear of failure. A most insidious form…” quote by Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0a/aung-san-suu-kyi-922_basic-human-rights_within-a-system-which-denies-the-existen_1397857.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0a/aung-san-suu-kyi-922_basic-human-rights_within-a-system-which-denies-the-existen_1397857.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0a/aung-san-suu-kyi-922_basic-human-rights_within-a-system-which-denies-the-existen_1397857.jpg) > ““Within a system which denies the existence of basic human rights, fear tends to be the order of the day. Fear of imprisonment, fear of torture, fear of death, fear of losing friends, family, property or means of livelihood, fear of poverty, fear of isolation, fear of failure. A most insidious form of fear is that which masquerades as common sense or even wisdom, condemning as foolish, reckless, insignificant or futile the small, daily acts of courage which help to preserve man's self-respect and inherent human dignity. It is not easy for a people conditioned by fear under the iron rule of the principle that might is right to free themselves from the enervating miasma of fear. Yet even under the most crushing state machinery courage rises up again and again, for fear is not the natural state of civilized man.”” [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 is used by oppressive regimes to suppress dignity, yet courage can reemerge despite systemic terror. **In simple terms:** Fear is a tool of oppression; courage can survive. Key Takeaway Cultivate courage in the face of fear. Themes oppression fear courage human rights Mood determined serious Type political inspirational When to use this quote - authoritarian rule - activism - personal risk - social movements Key Concepts psychological control resilience civil liberties Questions to Reflect On - What daily acts of courage can you practice? - How does fear masquerade as common sense? A Different Perspective Courage alone may not dismantle entrenched power. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basic human rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basic-human-rights/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Dictatorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictatorship/) [Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignity/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear Imprisonment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-imprisonment-4889312/) [Fear of death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-of-death/) [Fear of failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-of-failure/) [Fear Torture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-torture-1352801/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Human dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-dignity/) [Human rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-rights/) [Imprisonment Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imprisonment-fear-4534209/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Losing friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing-friends/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Oppression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppression/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Rights Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights-fear-1193984/) [Self respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-respect/) [Torture Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torture-fear-4889313/) ## Related quotes > [In a system which denies the existence of basic human rights, fear tends to be the order of the day. 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You pick some people you have similar interests with, and you hang out and talk. You give each other pep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalya-moon/what-are-friends-anyways-you-pick-some-people-you-have-similar/) [Dalya Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalya-moon/) > [I remained quiet about the climate disinformation campaign because I was afraid of losing friends and funding. The few times I summoned the courage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/i-remained-quiet-about-the-climate-disinformation-campaign-because-i/) [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) > [Losing friends is common when your're on a different level than they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-friends-is-common-when-your-re-on-a-different-level-than-they/) [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. I want to see the military rising to dignified heights of professionalism and true patriotism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/i-don-t-want-to-see-the-military-falling-i-want-to-see-the-military/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [One prisoner of conscience is one too many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/one-prisoner-of-conscience-is-one-too-many/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [It would be difficult to dispel ignorance unless there is freedom to pursue the truth unfettered by fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/it-would-be-difficult-to-dispel-ignorance-unless-there-is-freedom-to/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [I think more women should be involved in politics for the good of the human race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/i-think-more-women-should-be-involved-in-politics-for-the-good-of-the/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) [Explore all 328 Aung San Suu Kyi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) ## More Basic human rights quotes > [“. The understanding that what is good supports basic human rights and anything that threatens it is bad. We do not need a supernatural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/the-understanding-that-what-is-good-supports-basic-human-rights-and/) [Al Stefanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stefanelli/) > [Its up to any government to decide how to react to the denial of basic human rights anywhere in the world, including Egypt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/its-up-to-any-government-to-decide-how-to-react-to-the-denial-of/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [Korra and Aang ultimately stand for freedom, equality, and basic human rights, and I think Mike and I are fine with pushing that agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/korra-and-aang-ultimately-stand-for-freedom-equality-and-basic-human/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [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/) > [Until the philosophy which hold one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned... 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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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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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Your right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudys-kantara/it-is-not-that-difficult-to-understand-and-differentiate-between-our/) [Claudys Kantara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudys-kantara/) > [“When we hear people referred to as animals or aliens, we should immediately wonder, “Is this an attempt to reduce someone’s humanity so we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/when-we-hear-people-referred-to-as-animals-or-aliens-we-should/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned, everywhere is war. 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