Argument Quote by Emmeline Pankhurst
“The whole argument with the anti-suffragists, or even the critical suffragist man, is this: that you can govern human beings without their consent.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Women's suffrage rally, 1913
Governance without consent is impossible; even critics of suffrage recognize that people must have a say in their own rule.
In simple terms: Governance needs consent from those governed.
Key Takeaway
Demand consent for governance.
Themes
politics
rights
consent
democracy
Mood
determined
urgent
Type
political
activist
When to use this quote
- legislation
- public debate
- activism
Key Concepts
social contract
political legitimacy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies ensure consent?
- What mechanisms protect against non-consensual rule?
A Different Perspective
Consent may be ignored by authoritarian regimes.
![“[Asked, upon the death of her fast friend and sister suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1816-1902), which period of their association she had enjoyed the most:] The days when the struggle was the hardest and the fight the thickest; when the whole world was against us and we had to stand the closer…” quote by Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/305/susan-b-anthony-2103_ammunition_asked-upon-the-death-of-her-fast-friend_1576993.jpg)
