--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The struggle for freedom and human rights…" description: "\"The struggle for freedom and human rights is universal and Canada used to be a leader.\" — Erin O'Toole" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6f/erin-o-toole-5981_freedom_the-struggle-for-freedom-and-human-right_1644511.jpg" --- # The struggle for freedom and human rights is universal and… ![“The struggle for freedom and human rights is universal and Canada used to be a leader.” quote by Erin O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6f/erin-o-toole-5981_freedom_the-struggle-for-freedom-and-human-right_1644511.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6f/erin-o-toole-5981_freedom_the-struggle-for-freedom-and-human-right_1644511.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6f/erin-o-toole-5981_freedom_the-struggle-for-freedom-and-human-right_1644511.jpg) > “The struggle for freedom and human rights is universal and Canada used to be a leader.” [Erin O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-toole/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Notes Canada’s historic leadership in human rights, urging continued commitment to universal freedom. **In simple terms:** Canada once led in rights. Key Takeaway Advocate for global freedom. Themes human rights freedom leadership Mood concerned optimistic Type political advocacy When to use this quote - UN assemblies - policy advocacy - educational forums Key Concepts policy international law social justice Questions to Reflect On - How can Canada regain its lead? - What policies promote universal rights? A Different Perspective Past leadership may not guarantee future action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canada/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-rights/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Struggle for freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle-for-freedom/) ## Related quotes > [Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand have stood together in the long struggle for freedom for decades. We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-toole/canada-the-united-kingdom-the-united-states-australia-and-new-zealand/) [Erin O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-toole/) > [“Deep in our history of struggle for freedom, Canada was the North star”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/deep-in-our-history-of-struggle-for-freedom-canada-was-the-north-star/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [Everything that we perceive around us is struggling towards freedom, from the atom to the man, from the insentient, lifeless particle of matter to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/everything-that-we-perceive-around-us-is-struggling-towards-freedom/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Struggle for freedom. Where people are denied the right of choice, recourse to such struggle is the only means of achieving their liberties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/struggle-for-freedom-where-people-are-denied-the-right-of-choice/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [My first introduction to South Africa's struggle for freedom came when I was just 17. I had volunteered to speak in my mother's stead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/my-first-introduction-to-south-africa-s-struggle-for-freedom-came/) [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) > [“I will not forget this wound to our country or those who inflicted it. I will not yield; I will not rest; I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-will-not-forget-this-wound-to-our-country-or-those-who-inflicted-it/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Angela Davis's legacy as a freedom fighter made her an enemy of the state under the increasingly neoliberal regimes of Nixon, Reagan and J.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/angela-davis-s-legacy-as-a-freedom-fighter-made-her-an-enemy-of-the/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [“In the long, fierce struggle for freedom of opinion, the press, like the Church, counted its martyrs by thousands. -James A. Garfield”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/in-the-long-fierce-struggle-for-freedom-of-opinion-the-press-like-the-2/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [In the long, fierce struggle for freedom of opinion, the press, like the Church, counted its martyrs by thousands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/in-the-long-fierce-struggle-for-freedom-of-opinion-the-press-like-the/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [The struggle for freedom is ultimately not resistance to autocrats or oligarchs but resistance to the despotism of public opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-struggle-for-freedom-is-ultimately-not-resistance-to-autocrats-or/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Thus, the struggle for peace includes the struggle for freedom and justice for the masses of all countries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-henderson/thus-the-struggle-for-peace-includes-the-struggle-for-freedom-and/) [Arthur Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-henderson/) > [The struggle for freedom and justice is now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/the-struggle-for-freedom-and-justice-is-now/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [I am known for a life spent in the struggle for freedom, and freedom includes the freedom of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/i-am-known-for-a-life-spent-in-the-struggle-for-freedom-and-freedom/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [Every revolution, bloody or not, has two phases. The first phase is defined by the struggle for freedom, the second by the struggle for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-michnik/every-revolution-bloody-or-not-has-two-phases-the-first-phase-is/) [Adam Michnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-michnik/) > [If a piece of burning charcoal be placed on a man’s head, see how he struggles to throw it off. Similar will be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/if-a-piece-of-burning-charcoal-be-placed-on-a-man-s-head-see-how-he/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## More by Erin O'Toole > [I'm a principle liberty, rule-of-law Conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-toole/i-m-a-principle-liberty-rule-of-law-conservative/) [Erin O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-toole/) > [As I have said several times, Veterans are not a monolithic group that has the same needs and desires. They want to be fulfilled,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-toole/as-i-have-said-several-times-veterans-are-not-a-monolithic-group-that/) [Erin O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-toole/) > [Helping parents to meet the everyday costs of raising their families, helping them lift themselves up to create a better life for their children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-toole/helping-parents-to-meet-the-everyday-costs-of-raising-their-families/) [Erin O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-toole/) > [Whereas Canada and our allies see the rule of law, freedom of speech, and fair elections as the guardrails to a more secure world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-toole/whereas-canada-and-our-allies-see-the-rule-of-law-freedom-of-speech/) [Erin O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-toole/) > [I have great respect for all my colleagues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-toole/i-have-great-respect-for-all-my-colleagues/) [Erin O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-toole/) > [Every time we refuse to stand up for liberty and our core beliefs as a nation in the face of aggression from the Chinese…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-toole/every-time-we-refuse-to-stand-up-for-liberty-and-our-core-beliefs-as/) [Erin O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-toole/) > [I want Albertans to know they will have a champion in Erin O'Toole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-toole/i-want-albertans-to-know-they-will-have-a-champion-in-erin-o-toole/) [Erin O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-toole/) > [I wore a uniform to stand up for all rights and that means I don't pick or choose which I defend, whether it's for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-toole/i-wore-a-uniform-to-stand-up-for-all-rights-and-that-means-i-don-t/) [Erin O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-toole/) > [We need to reach out to more Canadians to show them that they could see themselves reflected in our party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-toole/we-need-to-reach-out-to-more-canadians-to-show-them-that-they-could/) [Erin O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-toole/) > [By the 1970s, Western sanctions had hollowed out the Soviet economy. Ultimately, however, what brought down the Soviets was their inability to repair the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-toole/by-the-1970s-western-sanctions-had-hollowed-out-the-soviet-economy/) [Erin O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-toole/) > [Do we go back and be the mushy middle party? Or do we have conservative, principled ideas for all the issues of the day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-toole/do-we-go-back-and-be-the-mushy-middle-party-or-do-we-have/) [Erin O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-toole/) > [An O'Toole government will pass a Freedom of Movement Act that will make it a criminal offence to block a railway, airport, port, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-toole/an-o-toole-government-will-pass-a-freedom-of-movement-act-that-will/) [Erin O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-toole/) > [Like all Canadians, I was deeply frustrated by the decision of U.S. President Donald Trump to impose tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum. Conservatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-toole/like-all-canadians-i-was-deeply-frustrated-by-the-decision-of-u-s/) [Erin O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-toole/) > [I fight for people that wear a uniform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-toole/i-fight-for-people-that-wear-a-uniform/) [Erin O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-toole/) > [The federal government needs to make it clear that recognition of Indigenous rights means that when Indigenous bands and their leadership approve projects, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-toole/the-federal-government-needs-to-make-it-clear-that-recognition-of/) [Erin O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-toole/) [Explore all 100 Erin O'Toole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-toole/) ## More Canada quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Plant flowers in others' gardens and your life becomes a bouquet! Submitted by Lisa Letto, Coordinator, Nutrition Resource and Volunteer Centre, College of Pharmacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/plant-flowers-in-others-gardens-and-your-life-becomes-a-bouquet/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [Our country has shown a lack of will to resist its own disintegration .. . Canada is practically the only country left in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/our-country-has-shown-a-lack-of-will-to-resist-its-own-disintegration/) [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) > [“Not very long ago I was driving with my husband on the back roads of Grey County, which is to the north and east…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/not-very-long-ago-i-was-driving-with-my-husband-on-the-back-roads-of/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [Purchasing items made in the U.S. for our stores here or Canadian goods for our stores in Canada makes good business sense because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/purchasing-items-made-in-the-u-s-for-our-stores-here-or-canadian/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [One of the things that I miss about Canada is that even the strangers, you have an immediate rapport, there's just an understanding that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/one-of-the-things-that-i-miss-about-canada-is-that-even-the-strangers/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I've never been invited to do an exhibition or do a talk in England, except once, about 10 years ago. I've given talks all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wildsmith/i-ve-never-been-invited-to-do-an-exhibition-or-do-a-talk-in-england/) [Brian Wildsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wildsmith/) > [Canada has become such a staging area for Chinese money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kwan/canada-has-become-such-a-staging-area-for-chinese-money/) [Kevin Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kwan/) > [“To be honest, it's a real relief to go to Canada where I can be among my relatives. Just the kind of break I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-puddicombe/to-be-honest-it-s-a-real-relief-to-go-to-canada-where-i-can-be-among/) [Ken Puddicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-puddicombe/) > [When I left Canada for Bayern, people said, 'You'll never make it. You'll be back in a year.' I stopped going to school because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-hargreaves/when-i-left-canada-for-bayern-people-said-you-ll-never-make-it-you-ll/) [Owen Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-hargreaves/) > [LEGO has announced that they are shutting down their U.S. factory and moving it to Canada. LEGO employees say it's their fault because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/lego-has-announced-that-they-are-shutting-down-their-u-s-factory-and/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [It's so Canada. On some level, you laugh, but on another level, it's just depressing. We pride ourselves: We're not like the bad old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-backhouse/it-s-so-canada-on-some-level-you-laugh-but-on-another-level-it-s-just/) [Constance Backhouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-backhouse/) > [The movement across Canada to fight toxic chemicals is a women's movement. It's a concern about health; it's very intimate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/the-movement-across-canada-to-fight-toxic-chemicals-is-a-women-s/) [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) > [I grew up working in Canada so everything was low budget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-page/i-grew-up-working-in-canada-so-everything-was-low-budget/) [Ellen Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-page/) [Browse all 1,873 Canada quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canada/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The struggle for freedom and human rights is universal and Canada used to be a leader.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Erin O'Toole" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-toole/the-struggle-for-freedom-and-human-rights-is-universal-and-canada/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Canada" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-toole/the-struggle-for-freedom-and-human-rights-is-universal-and-canada/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6f/erin-o-toole-5981_freedom_the-struggle-for-freedom-and-human-right_1644511.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6f/erin-o-toole-5981_freedom_the-struggle-for-freedom-and-human-right_1644511.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6f/erin-o-toole-5981_freedom_the-struggle-for-freedom-and-human-right_1644511.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The struggle for freedom and human rights is universal and Canada used to be a leader.” — Erin O'Toole", "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": "Erin O'Toole", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-toole/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The struggle for freedom and human...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-toole/the-struggle-for-freedom-and-human-rights-is-universal-and-canada/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-toole/the-struggle-for-freedom-and-human-rights-is-universal-and-canada/#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 } } ] } ```