---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We need to defend principles like…"
description: "\"We need to defend principles like democracy, freedom of speech, gender equality, and the rule of law through exemplifying these on a global scale, not ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/407/deeyah-khan-10838_communication_we-need-to-defend-principles-like-democr_1379910.jpg"
---

#  We need to defend principles like democracy, freedom of…

![“We need to defend principles like democracy, freedom of speech, gender equality, and the rule of law through exemplifying these on a global scale, not through the same cynical, isolationist policies which have eroded these so-called 'British' values across the rest of the world.” quote by Deeyah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/407/deeyah-khan-10838_communication_we-need-to-defend-principles-like-democr_1379910.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/407/deeyah-khan-10838_communication_we-need-to-defend-principles-like-democr_1379910.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/407/deeyah-khan-10838_communication_we-need-to-defend-principles-like-democr_1379910.jpg)

> “We need to defend principles like democracy, freedom of speech, gender equality, and the rule of law through exemplifying these on a global scale, not through the same cynical, isolationist policies which have eroded these so-called 'British' values across the rest of the world.”

[Deeyah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeyah-khan/)

## About This Quote

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

Defend democracy, free speech, gender equality, rule of law worldwide, not through isolationist policies that erode British values.

**In simple terms:** Promote universal rights, avoid cynical isolation.

Key Takeaway

Champion inclusive global values.

Themes

politics human rights globalism

Mood

inspirational determined

Type

political ethical

When to use this quote

- international diplomacy
- policy making
- human rights advocacy
- education programs

Key Concepts

Democracy freedom of speech gender equality rule of law

Questions to Reflect On

- How can nations act globally without losing identity?
- What policies best support universal values?

A Different Perspective

Balancing national interests with global ideals is complex.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-freedom/) [Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom of speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-of-speech/) [Gender equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gender-equality/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Rule of law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rule-of-law/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [Don't ever dare to take your college as a matter of course - because, like democracy and freedom, many people you'll never know have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-ever-dare-to-take-your-college-as-a-matter-of-course-because/)

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

> [Rather than shutting down free speech, we need to broaden it, to make it possible for young people to say even the things we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeyah-khan/rather-than-shutting-down-free-speech-we-need-to-broaden-it-to-make/)

[Deeyah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeyah-khan/)

> [We will remain vigilant, and we will not forget that protecting America means that we will defend the principles on which it was founded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/we-will-remain-vigilant-and-we-will-not-forget-that-protecting/)

[Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/)

> [There is so much each one of us can do to make a difference. We are at a dangerous juncture in the history of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-jagger/there-is-so-much-each-one-of-us-can-do-to-make-a-difference-we-are-at/)

[Bianca Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-jagger/)

> [I come to you with only Karate, Empty Hands. I have no weapons, but should I be forced to defend myself, my principles, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-parker/i-come-to-you-with-only-karate-empty-hands-i-have-no-weapons-but/)

[Ed Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-parker/)

> [“A tree has roots in the soil yet reaches to the sky. It tells us that in order to aspire we need to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/a-tree-has-roots-in-the-soil-yet-reaches-to-the-sky-it-tells-us-that/)

[Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/)

> [It is important that those that do come to settle in the U.K. gain a sense of British identity and share British values. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rishi-sunak/it-is-important-that-those-that-do-come-to-settle-in-the-u-k-gain-a/)

[Rishi Sunak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rishi-sunak/)

> [I rage when Boris Johnson is more interested in sucking up to Donald Trump than standing up for British values of decency, equality and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-swinson/i-rage-when-boris-johnson-is-more-interested-in-sucking-up-to-donald/)

[Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/)

> [There is an insuperable problem about introducing immigrants to British values. There are no British values. Nor are there any Serbian or Peruvian values.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/there-is-an-insuperable-problem-about-introducing-immigrants-to/)

[Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/)

> [Just as it wouldn't be right to only to have an economic dialogue with China, equally you shouldn't restrict your dialogue solely to issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/just-as-it-wouldn-t-be-right-to-only-to-have-an-economic-dialogue/)

[George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/)

> [Britain has always been at the forefront of global affairs - upholding British values of democracy, freedom, and justice, as well as bringing peace,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-williamson/britain-has-always-been-at-the-forefront-of-global-affairs-upholding/)

[Gavin Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-williamson/)

> [Sometimes a politician gets up and talks about British values and what we think that means, and we can be knocked down quite harshly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-rudd/sometimes-a-politician-gets-up-and-talks-about-british-values-and/)

[Amber Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-rudd/)

> [Principles are like prayers; noble, of course, but awkward at a party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-violet/principles-are-like-prayers-noble-of-course-but-awkward-at-a-party/)

[Lady Violet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-violet/)

> [If I do, I say so. That's the only way out of that. If there are three words that need to be used more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/if-i-do-i-say-so-that-s-the-only-way-out-of-that-if-there-are-three/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [Children being groomed to travel abroad or disagree with British values could happen anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-morgan/children-being-groomed-to-travel-abroad-or-disagree-with-british/)

[Nicky Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-morgan/)

## More by Deeyah Khan

> [There is no psychiatric pattern which can predict who becomes an extremist - but they are all frustrated with their reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeyah-khan/there-is-no-psychiatric-pattern-which-can-predict-who-becomes-an/)

[Deeyah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeyah-khan/)

> [The state has a duty to protect all its citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeyah-khan/the-state-has-a-duty-to-protect-all-its-citizens/)

[Deeyah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeyah-khan/)

> [We need to be able to guarantee the safety of all artists and activists for human rights so that it no longer takes extraordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeyah-khan/we-need-to-be-able-to-guarantee-the-safety-of-all-artists-and/)

[Deeyah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeyah-khan/)

> ['Honour'-based violence is a form of domestic violence. Domestic violence is a broad category.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeyah-khan/honour-based-violence-is-a-form-of-domestic-violence-domestic/)

[Deeyah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeyah-khan/)

> [Self-expression should not be a challenge that demands extraordinary talent but should be a right accessible to all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeyah-khan/self-expression-should-not-be-a-challenge-that-demands-extraordinary/)

[Deeyah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeyah-khan/)

> [The problem with Muslim women is less that we cannot speak the language, but that no one listens to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeyah-khan/the-problem-with-muslim-women-is-less-that-we-cannot-speak-the/)

[Deeyah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeyah-khan/)

> [Freedom of expression is essential for feminists and dissidents in the Muslim world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeyah-khan/freedom-of-expression-is-essential-for-feminists-and-dissidents-in/)

[Deeyah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeyah-khan/)

> [We need more courageous individuals who will defy the structures of power, whether political, economic, or intimate, but we also need it to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeyah-khan/we-need-more-courageous-individuals-who-will-defy-the-structures-of/)

[Deeyah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeyah-khan/)

> [Our media provides a continuing message that for men, heroism is defined through association with control, independence, and the ability to commit violence, from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeyah-khan/our-media-provides-a-continuing-message-that-for-men-heroism-is/)

[Deeyah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeyah-khan/)

> [Muslim women can save the world from ISIS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeyah-khan/muslim-women-can-save-the-world-from-isis/)

[Deeyah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeyah-khan/)

> [Like Theresa May, I regularly find myself infuriated by the rantings of Anjem Choudary and other hate preachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeyah-khan/like-theresa-may-i-regularly-find-myself-infuriated-by-the-rantings/)

[Deeyah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeyah-khan/)

> [Women's empowerment, whether through legal, financial, or cultural routes, will tend to increase their agency and their ability to take part in activism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeyah-khan/women-s-empowerment-whether-through-legal-financial-or-cultural/)

[Deeyah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeyah-khan/)

> [Left to the mercies of their communities, Muslim women and children remain in abusive households and face losing their financial security over issues like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeyah-khan/left-to-the-mercies-of-their-communities-muslim-women-and-children/)

[Deeyah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeyah-khan/)

> [Women with education, skills, and independent sources of income are more able to withstand the pressures of the patriarchal family and more able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeyah-khan/women-with-education-skills-and-independent-sources-of-income-are/)

[Deeyah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeyah-khan/)

> [We cannot leave vulnerable young men open to the exploitation of extremists, both for our own security and their own wellbeing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeyah-khan/we-cannot-leave-vulnerable-young-men-open-to-the-exploitation-of/)

[Deeyah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeyah-khan/)

[Explore all 63 Deeyah Khan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeyah-khan/)

## More Communication quotes

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [The problem posed by indirect speech acts is the problem of how it is possible for the speaker to say one thing and mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searle/the-problem-posed-by-indirect-speech-acts-is-the-problem-of-how-it-is/)

[John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searle/)

> [We should have a conversation when we hang up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/we-should-have-a-conversation-when-we-hang-up/)

[Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/)

> [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [A poet is wounded into speech, and he examines these wounds, meticulously, to discover how to heal them. The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/)

[Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/)

> [“To engage in dialogue is to serve others via whatever is real inside you; to engage in debate is to ultimately serve the illusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oli-anderson/to-engage-in-dialogue-is-to-serve-others-via-whatever-is-real-inside/)

[Oli Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oli-anderson/)

> [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/)

[Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/)

> [In dialogue, there is opposition, yes, but no head-on collision. Smashing heads does not open minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/in-dialogue-there-is-opposition-yes-but-no-head-on-collision-smashing/)

[Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/)

> [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/)

[Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/)

> [I've been in a serious conversation with one of my children, and a fan has come up. I've been in a public bathroom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-reddy/i-ve-been-in-a-serious-conversation-with-one-of-my-children-and-a-fan/)

[Helen Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-reddy/)

> [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/)

[Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/)

> [Disability, in general, hasn't been included in the conversation about inclusivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-winston-george/disability-in-general-hasn-t-been-included-in-the-conversation-about/)

[Jason Winston George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-winston-george/)

> [“Women will be at least 50 percent of the communications community workforce … from executive suite to interns. Why? The “integrated” agency will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoram-wind/women-will-be-at-least-50-percent-of-the-communications-community/)

Yoram Wind

> [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/)

[Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/)

[Browse all 21,506 Communication quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We need to defend principles like democracy, freedom of speech, gender equality, and the rule of law through exemplifying these on a global scale, not through the same cynical, isolationist policies which have eroded these so-called 'British' values across the rest of the world.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Deeyah Khan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeyah-khan/we-need-to-defend-principles-like-democracy-freedom-of-speech-gender/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Communication"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeyah-khan/we-need-to-defend-principles-like-democracy-freedom-of-speech-gender/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/407/deeyah-khan-10838_communication_we-need-to-defend-principles-like-democr_1379910.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/407/deeyah-khan-10838_communication_we-need-to-defend-principles-like-democr_1379910.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/407/deeyah-khan-10838_communication_we-need-to-defend-principles-like-democr_1379910.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We need to defend principles like democracy, freedom of speech, gender equality, and the rule of law through…” — Deeyah Khan",
                "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": "Deeyah Khan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeyah-khan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We need to defend principles like...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeyah-khan/we-need-to-defend-principles-like-democracy-freedom-of-speech-gender/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeyah-khan/we-need-to-defend-principles-like-democracy-freedom-of-speech-gender/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
