Authoritarian Quote by Edward Snowden
“The authoritarian one believed that an individual's rights were basically provided by governments and were determined by states. The other society - ours - tended to believe that a large portion of our rights were inherent and couldn't be abrogated by governments, even if this seemed necessary.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public lecture on civil liberties, 2015
Contrasts two societies: one where rights are granted by the state, another where rights are inherent and cannot be taken away
In simple terms: Rights can be given or inherent; the latter is stronger
Key Takeaway
Defend inherent rights against governmental overreach
Themes
politics
human rights
philosophy
Mood
serious
reflective
Type
philosophical
activist
When to use this quote
- advocating for civil liberties
- policy debates
- education on rights
Key Concepts
social contract
natural rights
Questions to Reflect On
- What rights do you consider non‑negotiable?
- How can societies protect inherent rights?
A Different Perspective
Governments may claim necessity to limit rights; balance is complex
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![“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)
