--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A favorite pro-abortion tactic is to…" description: "\"A favorite pro-abortion tactic is to insist that the definition of when life begins is impossible; that the question is a theological or moral or philo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/938/bernard-nathanson-48489_abortion_a-favorite-pro-abortion-tactic-is-to-ins_2949885.jpg" --- # A favorite pro-abortion tactic is to insist that the… ![“A favorite pro-abortion tactic is to insist that the definition of when life begins is impossible; that the question is a theological or moral or philosophical one, anything but a scientific one. Fetology makes it undeniably evident that life begins at conception and requires all the protection…” quote by Bernard Nathanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/938/bernard-nathanson-48489_abortion_a-favorite-pro-abortion-tactic-is-to-ins_2949885.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/938/bernard-nathanson-48489_abortion_a-favorite-pro-abortion-tactic-is-to-ins_2949885.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/938/bernard-nathanson-48489_abortion_a-favorite-pro-abortion-tactic-is-to-ins_2949885.jpg) > “A favorite pro-abortion tactic is to insist that the definition of when life begins is impossible; that the question is a theological or moral or philosophical one, anything but a scientific one. Fetology makes it undeniably evident that life begins at conception and requires all the protection and safeguards that any of us enjoy…As a scientist I know, not believe, know that human life begins at conception.” [Bernard Nathanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-nathanson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Defining when life begins is presented as a scientific fact—conception—countering moral or theological debates. **In simple terms:** Life begins at conception, a scientific claim. Key Takeaway Acknowledge scientific evidence in ethical discussions. Themes ethics science abortion life policy Mood serious determined urgent Type political ethical When to use this quote - legislative debates - medical counseling - public policy - education programs Key Concepts fetal biology bioethics human rights medical science Questions to Reflect On - How can science and morality be integrated in policy? - What role should personal belief play in legal definitions? A Different Perspective Scientific consensus may be contested by cultural or religious values. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) [Conception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conception/) [Human life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-life/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Begins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-begins/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Philosophical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophical/) [Pro abortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pro-abortion/) [Protection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protection/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) [Tactics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tactics/) ## Related quotes > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. 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/) > [I do believe life begins at conception. The very first time I ran for election, I took out an editorial in the local newspaper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stockwell-day/i-do-believe-life-begins-at-conception-the-very-first-time-i-ran-for/) [Stockwell Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stockwell-day/) > [Conservatives believe that from the standpoint of the federal government, life begins at conception and ends at birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/conservatives-believe-that-from-the-standpoint-of-the-federal/) [Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/) > [The science is settled; it's not even a consensus, it is a unanimity that human life begins at conception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/the-science-is-settled-it-s-not-even-a-consensus-it-is-a-unanimity/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Life begins at conception, but allow early abortions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-thompson/life-begins-at-conception-but-allow-early-abortions/) [Fred Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-thompson/) > [The Republicans have long had a platform of being pro-life. And I'm someone that believes life begins at conception and should be protected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-mcmorris-rodgers/the-republicans-have-long-had-a-platform-of-being-pro-life-and-i-m/) [Cathy McMorris Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-mcmorris-rodgers/) > [People say life begins at conception, I say life began about a billion years ago and it's a continuous process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/people-say-life-begins-at-conception-i-say-life-began-about-a-billion/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [I don't believe life begins at conception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-land/i-don-t-believe-life-begins-at-conception/) [Stephanie Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-land/) > [I am pro-life, I believe human life begins at conception. I also believe that embryonic stem cell research should be encouraged and supported.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-frist/i-am-pro-life-i-believe-human-life-begins-at-conception-i-also/) [Bill Frist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-frist/) > [The Catholic Church did not always teach that life begins at conception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/the-catholic-church-did-not-always-teach-that-life-begins-at/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) > [As an O.B. doctor of thirty years, and having delivered 4,000 babies, I can assure you life begins at conception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/as-an-o-b-doctor-of-thirty-years-and-having-delivered-4-000-babies-i/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [I'm Catholic. I believe life begins at conception, but I'm also American, and I believe in the separation of church and state. A woman's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-lamb/i-m-catholic-i-believe-life-begins-at-conception-but-i-m-also/) [Conor Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-lamb/) > [I have to certainly stand for life. I know that there are some who disagree, and I respect their point of view. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-mourdock/i-have-to-certainly-stand-for-life-i-know-that-there-are-some-who/) [Richard Mourdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-mourdock/) > [“For Republicans, life begins at conception but ends at birth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-adam-snyder/for-republicans-life-begins-at-conception-but-ends-at-birth/) [J.Adam Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-adam-snyder/) > [Now we allow that life begins with conception, because we contend that the soul also begins from conception; life taking its commencement at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/now-we-allow-that-life-begins-with-conception-because-we-contend-that/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) ## More by Bernard Nathanson > [ I remember laughing when we made those slogans up \[about abortion\]. . . . We were looking for some sexy, catchy slogans to capture… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-nathanson/i-remember-laughing-when-we-made-those-slogans-up-about-abortion-we/) [Bernard Nathanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-nathanson/) > [Fewer women would have abortions if wombs had windows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-nathanson/fewer-women-would-have-abortions-if-wombs-had-windows/) [Bernard Nathanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-nathanson/) > [Another myth we fed to the public through the media was that legalizing abortion would only mean that the abortions taking place i1legally would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-nathanson/another-myth-we-fed-to-the-public-through-the-media-was-that/) [Bernard Nathanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-nathanson/) > [ At the end of the two years that I was the director \[of the Center for Reproductive and Sexual Health in Manhattan\], we had… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-nathanson/at-the-end-of-the-two-years-that-i-was-the-director-of-the-center-for/) [Bernard Nathanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-nathanson/) > [We fed the public a line of deceit, dishonesty, a fabrication of statistics and figures. We succeeded because the time was right and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-nathanson/we-fed-the-public-a-line-of-deceit-dishonesty-a-fabrication-of/) [Bernard Nathanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-nathanson/) > [There is no longer serious doubt in my mind that human life exists from the very onset of pregnancy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-nathanson/there-is-no-longer-serious-doubt-in-my-mind-that-human-life-exists/) [Bernard Nathanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-nathanson/) > [We fed the public a line of deceit, dishonesty, a fabrication of statistics and figures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-nathanson/we-fed-the-public-a-line-of-deceit-dishonesty-a-fabrication-of-2/) [Bernard Nathanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-nathanson/) [Explore all 8 Bernard Nathanson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-nathanson/) ## More Abortion quotes > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974 > [Hey everyone, in case y'all didn't hear, I'm pregnat, and after discussing it w/ my family, I've decided to get an abortion, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-badesheim/hey-everyone-in-case-y-all-didn-t-hear-i-m-pregnat-and-after/) Madison Badesheim > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [My favorite Founding Fathers, Christians like John Adams, were absolutely appalled by slavery, and did not own slaves. I think we're going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/my-favorite-founding-fathers-christians-like-john-adams-were/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [“David Bereit, Founder of Forty Days for Life, points out that any abortion clinic in America should have a sign in its window that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-price/david-bereit-founder-of-forty-days-for-life-points-out-that-any/) [John Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-price/) > [The Chinese describe themselves as political refugees. Many base that claim on China's strict population laws, which allow them to have only one child.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/the-chinese-describe-themselves-as-political-refugees-many-base-that/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [I'm a pro-life candidate because I believe that science is proving us right every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-m-a-pro-life-candidate-because-i-believe-that-science-is-proving-us/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [I've noticed that everyone who is for abortion…has been born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-noticed-that-everyone-who-is-for-abortion-has-been-born/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [We talk a lot about how abortion is a medical procedure, but actually if you look at what the other side is doing, they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-northup/we-talk-a-lot-about-how-abortion-is-a-medical-procedure-but-actually/) [Nancy Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-northup/) > [“The Vatican won't prosecute pedophile priests but I decide I'm not ready for motherhood and it's condemnation for me? These are the same people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-renee-taylor/the-vatican-won-t-prosecute-pedophile-priests-but-i-decide-i-m-not/) Sonya Renee Taylor > [Pro-lifers have long been castigated for bringing private values into the public square. But actually it is the pro-abortion position that is based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/pro-lifers-have-long-been-castigated-for-bringing-private-values-into/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [I am 100 percent pro-life and have been my whole life. That means I am opposed to abortion at any stage of pregnancy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hawley/i-am-100-percent-pro-life-and-have-been-my-whole-life-that-means-i-am/) [Josh Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hawley/) > [Any woman should have the right to a safe and legal abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-ford/any-woman-should-have-the-right-to-a-safe-and-legal-abortion/) [Betty Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-ford/) > [“For Republicans, life begins at conception but ends at birth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-adam-snyder/for-republicans-life-begins-at-conception-but-ends-at-birth/) [J.Adam Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-adam-snyder/) > [I think fundamentally, the real power behind the anti-choice movement in regard to abortion and the opposition to the rights of LGBT Americans is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-w-lynn/i-think-fundamentally-the-real-power-behind-the-anti-choice-movement/) [Barry W. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-w-lynn/) [Browse all 1,629 Abortion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A favorite pro-abortion tactic is to insist that the definition of when life begins is impossible; that the question is a theological or moral or philosophical one, anything but a scientific one. 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