---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A privilege may not be a right, but…"
description: "\"A privilege may not be a right, but, under the constitution of the country, I do not gather that any broad distinction is drawn between the rights and ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/charles-tupper-40399_broads_a-privilege-may-not-be-a-right-but-under_1401597.png"
---

#  A privilege may not be a right, but, under the…

![“A privilege may not be a right, but, under the constitution of the country, I do not gather that any broad distinction is drawn between the rights and the privileges that were enjoyed and that were taken away.” quote by Charles Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/charles-tupper-40399_broads_a-privilege-may-not-be-a-right-but-under_1401597.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/charles-tupper-40399_broads_a-privilege-may-not-be-a-right-but-under_1401597.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/charles-tupper-40399_broads_a-privilege-may-not-be-a-right-but-under_1401597.png)

> “A privilege may not be a right, but, under the constitution of the country, I do not gather that any broad distinction is drawn between the rights and the privileges that were enjoyed and that were taken away.”

[Charles Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-tupper/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Privileges can be removed, but rights are protected by the constitution.

**In simple terms:** Rights are permanent; privileges can change.

Key Takeaway

Guard constitutional rights.

Themes

law politics history

Mood

reflective serious

Type

political philosophical

When to use this quote

- public policy
- legislative reform
- citizen rights

Key Concepts

constitutional law civil liberties

Questions to Reflect On

- Are modern policies respecting this distinction?
- How do we protect rights when privileges shift?

A Different Perspective

Distinguishing rights from privileges can be legally complex.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Distinction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) [Privileges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privileges/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/)

## Related quotes

> [I enjoyed my new position as vice president, but it took me a while to get used to the fact that I no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/i-enjoyed-my-new-position-as-vice-president-but-it-took-me-a-while-to/)

[Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/)

> [But the privileges that one has enjoyed and exploited can sometimes turn against you: nobody thinks of you as a director, you are always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-marceau/but-the-privileges-that-one-has-enjoyed-and-exploited-can-sometimes/)

[Sophie Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-marceau/)

> [I think that, as Americans, we should never forget that when we tamper with freedom of speech, it is a very sensitive issue that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/i-think-that-as-americans-we-should-never-forget-that-when-we-tamper/)

[Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/)

> [You may twist the word freedom as long as you please, but at last it comes to quiet enjoyment of your own property, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/you-may-twist-the-word-freedom-as-long-as-you-please-but-at-last-it/)

[William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/)

> [What men value in this world is not rights but privileges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/what-men-value-in-this-world-is-not-rights-but-privileges/)

[H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/)

> [There is more involved in this contest than is realized by every one. There is involved in this struggle the question whether your children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/there-is-more-involved-in-this-contest-than-is-realized-by-every-one/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [The fundamental disagreement most Republicans have is they don't think health care is a right. They think it is a privilege, not a right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/the-fundamental-disagreement-most-republicans-have-is-they-don-t/)

[Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/)

> [To his mind, free will was a privilege, not a right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/to-his-mind-free-will-was-a-privilege-not-a-right/)

[J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/)

> [Leading the party is a privilege not a right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-harman/leading-the-party-is-a-privilege-not-a-right/)

[Harriet Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-harman/)

> [Education is not a privilege, it is a right!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/education-is-not-a-privilege-it-is-a-right/)

[William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/)

> [A woman's love is a man's privilege, not his right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexia/a-woman-s-love-is-a-man-s-privilege-not-his-right/)

[Alexia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexia/)

> [Flip-flops are a privilege, not a right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bastian/flip-flops-are-a-privilege-not-a-right/)

[Michael Bastian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bastian/)

> [Health care is not a privilege. It's a right. It's a right as fundamental as civil rights. It's a right as fundamental as giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-blagojevich/health-care-is-not-a-privilege-it-s-a-right-it-s-a-right-as/)

[Rod Blagojevich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-blagojevich/)

> [I'll remind you all, however, that for government, existence is a privilege, not a right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/i-ll-remind-you-all-however-that-for-government-existence-is-a/)

[L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/)

> [After a century of trying, we declared that healthcare in America is not a privilege for a few, it is a right for everybody.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/after-a-century-of-trying-we-declared-that-healthcare-in-america-is/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

## More by Charles Tupper

> [The hon. gentleman had better spare his interrogations if they are as senseless as that one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-tupper/the-hon-gentleman-had-better-spare-his-interrogations-if-they-are-as/)

[Charles Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-tupper/)

> [The human mind naturally adapts itself to the position it occupies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-tupper/the-human-mind-naturally-adapts-itself-to-the-position-it-occupies/)

[Charles Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-tupper/)

> [That children shall be compelled to receive religious instruction which is in antagonism to the wishes of their parents, is what no man with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-tupper/that-children-shall-be-compelled-to-receive-religious-instruction/)

[Charles Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-tupper/)

> [That text-books be permitted in Catholic schools such as will not offend the religious views of the minority, and which from an educational standpoint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-tupper/that-text-books-be-permitted-in-catholic-schools-such-as-will-not/)

[Charles Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-tupper/)

> [It is idle to waste time and discuss whether it was within our power and duty to see whether we could prepare a Bill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-tupper/it-is-idle-to-waste-time-and-discuss-whether-it-was-within-our-power/)

[Charles Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-tupper/)

> [It is admitted by everybody that rights and privileges enjoyed by the Roman Catholic minority in Manitoba down to 1890, were taken away by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-tupper/it-is-admitted-by-everybody-that-rights-and-privileges-enjoyed-by-the/)

[Charles Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-tupper/)

> [My great desire has been to remove from the political arena a question of this kind that is calculated to prevent us getting a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-tupper/my-great-desire-has-been-to-remove-from-the-political-arena-a/)

[Charles Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-tupper/)

> [The position the Government finds itself in is not one of constructing a law, but of carrying out a decision given by the Judicial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-tupper/the-position-the-government-finds-itself-in-is-not-one-of/)

[Charles Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-tupper/)

> [I do not see any reason why they should not be given the means to give their teachers just as high an education as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-tupper/i-do-not-see-any-reason-why-they-should-not-be-given-the-means-to/)

[Charles Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-tupper/)

> [You have the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of England, the Presbyterians, the Wesleyans, represented in each school, and they are each to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-tupper/you-have-the-roman-catholic-church-the-church-of-england-the/)

[Charles Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-tupper/)

[Explore all 11 Charles Tupper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-tupper/)

## More Broads quotes

> [Thoroughly understand what it is to understand, and not only will you understand the broad lines of all there is to be understood but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lonergan/thoroughly-understand-what-it-is-to-understand-and-not-only-will-you/)

[Bernard Lonergan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lonergan/)

> [We'll walk together holding hands, and kiss in broad daylight, and love each other as much as we want to, and no one will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/we-ll-walk-together-holding-hands-and-kiss-in-broad-daylight-and-love/)

[Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/)

> [There was only the broad square with the scattered dim moons of the street lamps and with the monumental stone arch which receded into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/there-was-only-the-broad-square-with-the-scattered-dim-moons-of-the/)

[Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/)

> [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-remember-that-intelligence-is-not-enough-intelligence-plus/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [The "family" has clearly emerged anew in the late 1970s as a central subject for discussion, debate, research and writing in bothscholarly and popular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/the-family-has-clearly-emerged-anew-in-the-late-1970s-as-a-central/)

Sheila Kamerman

> [I am formally accountable to the steering board of the PIC, and I meet with nine ambassadors from the PIC every week. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-ashdown/i-am-formally-accountable-to-the-steering-board-of-the-pic-and-i-meet/)

[Paddy Ashdown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-ashdown/)

> [If you know the differences between an oak and a poplar, a spruce and a pine, down to the needles... you are able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-allen-lawson/if-you-know-the-differences-between-an-oak-and-a-poplar-a-spruce-and/)

[T. Allen Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-allen-lawson/)

> [Particularly the broad masses of the people can be moved only by the power of speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/particularly-the-broad-masses-of-the-people-can-be-moved-only-by-the/)

[Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/)

> [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/)

[Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/)

> [So the first thing I learned about how to get superior performance is not to buy stocks that are near their lows, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-neil/so-the-first-thing-i-learned-about-how-to-get-superior-performance-is/)

[William O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-neil/)

> [Broad-based, inclusive growth is what we need in America, not more advantages for people at the very top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/broad-based-inclusive-growth-is-what-we-need-in-america-not-more/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [The trees are white with dust, that o'er their sleep Wave their broad curtains in the south-wind's breath, While underneath such leafy tents they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/the-trees-are-white-with-dust-that-o-er-their-sleep-wave-their-broad/)

[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/)

> [A top World War II ace once said that fighter pilots fall into two broad categories: those who go out to kill and those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-top-world-war-ii-ace-once-said-that-fighter-pilots-fall-into-two/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Jubilee 2000 is a broad coalition which has moved the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/jubilee-2000-is-a-broad-coalition-which-has-moved-the-earth/)

[Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/)

> [As science is more and more subject to grave misuse as well as to use for human benefit it has also become the scientist's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-science-is-more-and-more-subject-to-grave-misuse-as-well-as-to-use/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

Browse all 956 Broads quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "A privilege may not be a right, but, under the constitution of the country, I do not gather that any broad distinction is drawn between the rights and the privileges that were enjoyed and that were taken away.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Charles Tupper"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-tupper/a-privilege-may-not-be-a-right-but-under-the-constitution-of-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Broads"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-tupper/a-privilege-may-not-be-a-right-but-under-the-constitution-of-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/charles-tupper-40399_broads_a-privilege-may-not-be-a-right-but-under_1401597.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/charles-tupper-40399_broads_a-privilege-may-not-be-a-right-but-under_1401597.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/charles-tupper-40399_broads_a-privilege-may-not-be-a-right-but-under_1401597.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A privilege may not be a right, but, under the constitution of the country, I do not gather that any broad…” — Charles Tupper",
                "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": "Charles Tupper",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-tupper/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "A privilege may not be a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-tupper/a-privilege-may-not-be-a-right-but-under-the-constitution-of-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-tupper/a-privilege-may-not-be-a-right-but-under-the-constitution-of-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
