--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we hear people referred to as…" description: "\"“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 can get awa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f99/bren-brown-280_aliens_when-we-hear-people-referred-to-as-anima_365817.jpg" --- # When we hear people referred to as animals or aliens, we… ![“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 can get away with hurting them or denying them basic human rights?” quote by Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f99/bren-brown-280_aliens_when-we-hear-people-referred-to-as-anima_365817.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f99/bren-brown-280_aliens_when-we-hear-people-referred-to-as-anima_365817.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f99/bren-brown-280_aliens_when-we-hear-people-referred-to-as-anima_365817.jpg) > ““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 can get away with hurting them or denying them basic human rights?”” [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Warns that dehumanizing language (animals/aliens) can justify cruelty and rights violations. **In simple terms:** Dehumanizing language enables harm. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge dehumanizing labels. Themes ethics human rights language Mood serious empowering Type ethical motivational When to use this quote - policy advocacy - inclusive communication - education workshops Key Concepts dehumanization social justice Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape our treatment of others? - What steps can you take to humanize marginalized groups? A Different Perspective Some argue such language is metaphorical, not literal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aliens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aliens/) [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Animals Aliens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals-aliens-3348402/) [Basic human rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basic-human-rights/) [Human rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-rights/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Humanity Away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity-away-3348403/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Reduce Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reduce-humanity-1680198/) ## Related quotes > [For every woman and girl violently attacked, we reduce our humanity. 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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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sister-helen-prejean/) > [Until the philosophy which hold one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned... Everything is war. 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Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/always-put-off-writing-by-reorganizing-my-entire-house-and-spending/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [When you ask people about love, they tell you about heartbreak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/when-you-ask-people-about-love-they-tell-you-about-heartbreak/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“I can recognize shame when it’s happening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-can-recognize-shame-when-it-s-happening/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [I carry a small sheet of paper in my wallet that has written on it the names of people whose opinions of me matter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-carry-a-small-sheet-of-paper-in-my-wallet-that-has-written-on-it/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/courage-starts-with-showing-up-and-letting-ourselves-be-seen/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Waking up every day and loving someone who may or may not love us back, whose safety we can't ensure, who may stay in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/waking-up-every-day-and-loving-someone-who-may-or-may-not-love-us/) [Brene Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“No matter how separated we are by what we think and believe, we are part of the same spiritual story.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/no-matter-how-separated-we-are-by-what-we-think-and-believe-we-are/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Perfectionism is self-destructive simply because there is no such thing as perfect. Perfection is an unattainable goal. Additionally, perfectionism is more about perception -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/perfectionism-is-self-destructive-simply-because-there-is-no-such/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Shame corrodes the very part of us that believes we are capable of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/shame-corrodes-the-very-part-of-us-that-believes-we-are-capable-of/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [If you're also in the arena and you're putting your ideas out and you're owning them and you're saying "I disagree with you about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/if-you-re-also-in-the-arena-and-you-re-putting-your-ideas-out-and-you/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“I found that men and women with high levels of shame resilience share these four elements: They understand shame and recognize what messages and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-found-that-men-and-women-with-high-levels-of-shame-resilience-share/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Connection gives purpose and meaning to our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/connection-gives-purpose-and-meaning-to-our-lives/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“But here’s the tricky part about compassion and connecting: We can’t call just anyone. 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