--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's no question in my mind but that…" description: "\"There's no question in my mind but that rights are never won unless people are willing to fight for them.\" — Eleanor Smeal" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/eleanor-smeal-14458_fighting_there-s-no-question-in-my-mind-but-that_2888505.png" --- # There's no question in my mind but that rights are never… ![“There's no question in my mind but that rights are never won unless people are willing to fight for them.” quote by Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/eleanor-smeal-14458_fighting_there-s-no-question-in-my-mind-but-that_2888505.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/eleanor-smeal-14458_fighting_there-s-no-question-in-my-mind-but-that_2888505.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/eleanor-smeal-14458_fighting_there-s-no-question-in-my-mind-but-that_2888505.png) > “There's no question in my mind but that rights are never won unless people are willing to fight for them.” [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rights are secured only when people actively defend them, not by passive hope. **In simple terms:** Rights need active defense. Key Takeaway Stand up for rights. Themes justice activism rights Mood determined urgent Type political motivational When to use this quote - protests - legal battles - community organizing Key Concepts civic engagement social responsibility collective action Questions to Reflect On - Are you willing to fight for your rights? - What actions can you take today? A Different Perspective Opposition can suppress movements. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) ## Related quotes > [Rights are won only by those who make their voices heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-milk/rights-are-won-only-by-those-who-make-their-voices-heard/) [Harvey Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-milk/) > [Some people are willing to fight for others, but sadly they aren't willing to FIGHT for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/some-people-are-willing-to-fight-for-others-but-sadly-they-aren-t/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [You show people what you're willing to fight for when you fight your friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/you-show-people-what-you-re-willing-to-fight-for-when-you-fight-your/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [“seeing that everything in the present age is weighed in the scales and by agreement, and people are seeking for nothing but their rights—‘a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-idiot-fyodor-dostoyevsky/seeing-that-everything-in-the-present-age-is-weighed-in-the-scales/) The Idiot Fyodor Dostoyevsky > [“If you don't fight for your rights, you won't be able to help others fight for their own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/if-you-don-t-fight-for-your-rights-you-won-t-be-able-to-help-others/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [Then you must be willing to fight," Mircea responded. "Life is not a gift, Raphael; it's a challenge. Rise to it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/then-you-must-be-willing-to-fight-mircea-responded-life-is-not-a-gift/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [You have to be committed to the people and willing to do what is in their best interest even when it isn't in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-crumpton/you-have-to-be-committed-to-the-people-and-willing-to-do-what-is-in/) [Ron Crumpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-crumpton/) > [Many people are willing to be God-centered as long as they feel that God is man-centered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/many-people-are-willing-to-be-god-centered-as-long-as-they-feel-that/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [We must all move shoulder to shoulder in a unified front to show this administration that the true majority of people are willing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/we-must-all-move-shoulder-to-shoulder-in-a-unified-front-to-show-this/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [People are more willing to say things when they don't know they're being recorded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-loomer/people-are-more-willing-to-say-things-when-they-don-t-know-they-re/) [Laura Loomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-loomer/) > [“Desperation breeds people who are willing to do anything to get what they need.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/desperation-breeds-people-who-are-willing-to-do-anything-to-get-what/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [We need to and must protect privacy. But I think that people will be willing and even eager to share medical information about themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-soon-shiong/we-need-to-and-must-protect-privacy-but-i-think-that-people-will-be/) [Patrick Soon-Shiong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-soon-shiong/) > [You can't just have a clean public space - you also have to have people willing to use it, and something that will draw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/you-can-t-just-have-a-clean-public-space-you-also-have-to-have-people/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [It amazes me how people are often more willing to act based on little or no data than to use data that is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-amazes-me-how-people-are-often-more-willing-to-act-based-on-little/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm so thankful that there are people willing to do that - to actually carry a child nine months for someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glozell/i-m-so-thankful-that-there-are-people-willing-to-do-that-to-actually/) GloZell ## More by Eleanor Smeal > [Feminist humor raises consciousness. And the reason it's funny is because it stands something on its head. Goodness knows you've got to have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/feminist-humor-raises-consciousness-and-the-reason-it-s-funny-is/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [I'm not a prejudice person, and I've worked with many male legislators and some have been excellent for us, so I'm not speaking against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/i-m-not-a-prejudice-person-and-i-ve-worked-with-many-male-legislators/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [We want this - and I - we hope that right when they come back, that the Congress passes the Lilly Ledbetter Act which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/we-want-this-and-i-we-hope-that-right-when-they-come-back-that-the/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [ Carolyn \[Maloney\] is the kind of legislator who, whether she's in the majority or the minority, whether her party is in the majority or… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/carolyn-maloney-is-the-kind-of-legislator-who-whether-she-s-in-the/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [The gag rule is, is that if any program receiving United States funding for Family Planning cannot mention, cannot speak the word "abortion" in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/the-gag-rule-is-is-that-if-any-program-receiving-united-states/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [Since 1996, the Feminist Majority Foundation has been immersed in a campaign to support Afghan women and girls in their fight against the brutal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/since-1996-the-feminist-majority-foundation-has-been-immersed-in-a/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [Since the 1950s (until the early 1990s), girls in Kabul and other cities attended schools. Half of university students were women, and women made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/since-the-1950s-until-the-early-1990s-girls-in-kabul-and-other-cities/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [ We think that Hillary \[Clinton\] will be a symbol and a reality for the women of the world, and it's very important because so… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/we-think-that-hillary-clinton-will-be-a-symbol-and-a-reality-for-the/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [Carolyn Maloney is really constantly thinking, "How do we improve things?" You know, sees the glass always half-full, and you have to be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/carolyn-maloney-is-really-constantly-thinking-how-do-we-improve/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [ She \[Carolyn Maloney\] has there day in and day out for us and for women of this country and of the world, but she… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/she-carolyn-maloney-has-there-day-in-and-day-out-for-us-and-for-women/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [I think that we're just fortunate that you have an experienced legislator: 26 years of fighting for our issues in line. I mean, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/i-think-that-we-re-just-fortunate-that-you-have-an-experienced/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [Carolyn Maloney knows how to get something done, and as I said, it doesn't matter if she's in the majority or the minority. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/carolyn-maloney-knows-how-to-get-something-done-and-as-i-said-it/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [Well it's unusual for us to do an endorsement, you know, and the special occasions where you need appointments, but we thought that Senator…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/well-it-s-unusual-for-us-to-do-an-endorsement-you-know-and-the/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [We have so few women in Congress. We are so underrepresented and whether we like it or not, we are in area - in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/we-have-so-few-women-in-congress-we-are-so-underrepresented-and/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [I have been studying women's political behavior since the early 1970s and first identified the gender gap in 1980 with the help of legendary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/i-have-been-studying-women-s-political-behavior-since-the-early-1970s/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) [Explore all 46 Eleanor Smeal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) ## More Fighting quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [“I bet she thought she was getting into a fight with a vanilla wafer on roller skates but little did she know she was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-portes/i-bet-she-thought-she-was-getting-into-a-fight-with-a-vanilla-wafer/) [Andrea Portes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-portes/) > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [We could form a government of national unity fighting corruption. The ordinary Afghan is sick and tired of it, because it's she or he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/we-could-form-a-government-of-national-unity-fighting-corruption-the/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [You have to fight gravity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-wine/you-have-to-fight-gravity/) [Sherwin Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-wine/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [Women rule the world. It's not really worth fighting because they know what they're doing. Ask Napoleon. Ask Adam. Ask Richard Burton or Richie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bon-jovi/women-rule-the-world-it-s-not-really-worth-fighting-because-they-know/) [Jon Bon Jovi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bon-jovi/) > [Well, He had known what love was-a sharp pang, a fierce experience, in the midst of whose flames he was struggling! but, through that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/well-he-had-known-what-love-was-a-sharp-pang-a-fierce-experience-in/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [It is sort of interesting that in our society this days we are very quick to apply the term 'war' to places where thare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-schneier/it-is-sort-of-interesting-that-in-our-society-this-days-we-are-very/) [Bruce Schneier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-schneier/) > [Someone else who liked what I did might turn around and say, "She's reworking and rethinking everything. She could just be making blankets now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/someone-else-who-liked-what-i-did-might-turn-around-and-say-she-s/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [The devil has been defeated, stop trying to defeat him. What we have left is the fight of faith, and it's a good fight!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-oyakhilome/the-devil-has-been-defeated-stop-trying-to-defeat-him-what-we-have/) [Chris Oyakhilome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-oyakhilome/) > [There comes a time when you're losing a fight that it just doesn't make sense to keep on fighting. It's not that you're being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paul-curtis/there-comes-a-time-when-you-re-losing-a-fight-that-it-just-doesn-t/) [Christopher Paul Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paul-curtis/) Browse all 13,685 Fighting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There's no question in my mind but that rights are never won unless people are willing to fight for them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eleanor Smeal" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/there-s-no-question-in-my-mind-but-that-rights-are-never-won-unless/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fighting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/there-s-no-question-in-my-mind-but-that-rights-are-never-won-unless/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/eleanor-smeal-14458_fighting_there-s-no-question-in-my-mind-but-that_2888505.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/eleanor-smeal-14458_fighting_there-s-no-question-in-my-mind-but-that_2888505.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/eleanor-smeal-14458_fighting_there-s-no-question-in-my-mind-but-that_2888505.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There's no question in my mind but that rights are never won unless people are willing to fight for them.” — Eleanor Smeal", "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": "Eleanor Smeal", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There's no question in my mind...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/there-s-no-question-in-my-mind-but-that-rights-are-never-won-unless/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/there-s-no-question-in-my-mind-but-that-rights-are-never-won-unless/#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 } } ] } ```