Arguing Quote by Edward Snowden
“Nobody needs to justify why they "need" a right: the burden of justification falls on the one seeking to infringe upon the right. But even if they did, you can't give away the rights of others because they're not useful to you. More simply, the majority cannot vote away the natural rights of the minority. Arguing that you don't care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don't care about free speech because you have nothing to say.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Guardian, 2013
Rights are inherent; they cannot be surrendered or justified away, especially by those who would limit them.
In simple terms: Rights can't be given up for convenience.
Key Takeaway
Defend rights even when they seem inconvenient.
Themes
rights
justice
politics
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
philosophical
political.
When to use this quote
- privacy debates
- free speech legislation
- minority protections
- public policy
Key Concepts
natural rights
civil liberties
Questions to Reflect On
- What rights are most vulnerable today?
- How do we protect minority rights against majority rule?
A Different Perspective
Balancing security and liberty is complex; sometimes rights conflict.
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![“[Brazil] went to the UN and said, "We need new standards for this." We need to take a look at what they're calling "data sovereignty."” quote by Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/af7/edward-snowden-555_brazil_brazil-went-to-the-un-and-said-we-need-n_14906.jpg)
![“There was a real choice when [Barack Obama] became president. It was a very difficult choice - to say, "We're not going to hold senior officials to account with the same laws that every other citizen in the country is held to," or "This is a nation that believes in the rule of law."” quote by Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/104/edward-snowden-555_accounts_there-was-a-real-choice-when-barack-obam_27838.jpg)
