--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the specific case of abortion, the…" description: "\"In the specific case of abortion, the matter is particularly easy in that no woman wants a late abortion. Once abortion was made legal, the age of the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f5/garrett-hardin-11328_abortion_in-the-specific-case-of-abortion-the-mat_2459511.jpg" --- # In the specific case of abortion, the matter is… ![“In the specific case of abortion, the matter is particularly easy in that no woman wants a late abortion. Once abortion was made legal, the age of the aborted fetus went down. The slope slipped in the other direction. If we legalize RU-486 and other similar new drugs, the age will fall to one week…” quote by Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f5/garrett-hardin-11328_abortion_in-the-specific-case-of-abortion-the-mat_2459511.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f5/garrett-hardin-11328_abortion_in-the-specific-case-of-abortion-the-mat_2459511.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f5/garrett-hardin-11328_abortion_in-the-specific-case-of-abortion-the-mat_2459511.jpg) > “In the specific case of abortion, the matter is particularly easy in that no woman wants a late abortion. Once abortion was made legal, the age of the aborted fetus went down. The slope slipped in the other direction. If we legalize RU-486 and other similar new drugs, the age will fall to one week or less and start approaching zero. The slippery slope will slide in the other direction. The only reason we have late abortions is because we make early abortion difficult.” [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Legal restrictions on early abortion influence the timing of later abortions, creating a paradoxical effect. **In simple terms:** Early abortion limits affect later abortion rates. Key Takeaway Consider policy impacts on abortion timing. Themes policy abortion legal slippery slope ethics Mood analytical concerned Type policy ethical analytical When to use this quote - legislation debate - healthcare planning - ethical analysis Key Concepts public health law bioethics Questions to Reflect On - What other factors influence abortion timing? - How do access and education affect abortion choices? A Different Perspective The argument may oversimplify complex socioeconomic factors affecting abortion decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) [Abortion Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion-difficult-640973/) [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Age Aborted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age-aborted-640972/) [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Cases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cases/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Drug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug/) [Early Abortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/early-abortion-640971/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Fetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fetus/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/late/) [Late Abortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/late-abortion-640969/) [Late Abortions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/late-abortions-640970/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Slides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slides/) [Slippery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slippery/) [Slippery slope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slippery-slope/) [Slopes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slopes/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) [Women want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-want/) [Zero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zero/) ## Related quotes > [There's a difference between early and late abortions. If you have a late abortion, where the fetus might feel pain, then I think you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/there-s-a-difference-between-early-and-late-abortions-if-you-have-a/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [I can honestly say that my abortion was one of the least difficult decisions of my life. I'm not being flippant when I say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/i-can-honestly-say-that-my-abortion-was-one-of-the-least-difficult/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) > [It is not possible to think of a way of screening out effectively the most appropriate embryos, and hence, what we should expect would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-wilmut/it-is-not-possible-to-think-of-a-way-of-screening-out-effectively-the/) [Ian Wilmut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-wilmut/) > [What it gives any human being a right to - to pick and choose which embryo - which fetus is more valuable than another.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadya-suleman/what-it-gives-any-human-being-a-right-to-to-pick-and-choose-which/) [Nadya Suleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadya-suleman/) > [I think we have deluded ourselves into believing that people don't know that abortion is killing. So any pretense that abortion is not killing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faye-wattleton/i-think-we-have-deluded-ourselves-into-believing-that-people-don-t/) [Faye Wattleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faye-wattleton/) > [The use of fetuses as organ and tissue donors is a ticking time bomb of bioethics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-caplan/the-use-of-fetuses-as-organ-and-tissue-donors-is-a-ticking-time-bomb/) [Arthur Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-caplan/) > [“No, I'm the human here. I'm the life at stake. I'm the one with fingernails, who feels pain. Me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicen-grey/no-i-m-the-human-here-i-m-the-life-at-stake-i-m-the-one-with/) [Alicen Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicen-grey/) > [A woman who deliberately destroys a fetus is answerable for murder. And any fine distinction as to its being completely formed or unformed is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/a-woman-who-deliberately-destroys-a-fetus-is-answerable-for-murder/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) > [With respect to those meanings of 'human' that are relevant to the morality of abortion, any fetus is less human than an adult pig,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/with-respect-to-those-meanings-of-human-that-are-relevant-to-the/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Americans of faith should try as hard to save the lives of African women as the lives of unborn fetuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/americans-of-faith-should-try-as-hard-to-save-the-lives-of-african/) [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) > [“It's kinda cool to think about you as a real person, instead of some fetus ghost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-frank/it-s-kinda-cool-to-think-about-you-as-a-real-person-instead-of-some/) [Hillary Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-frank/) > [Before a baby is born, you have a baby shower, not a fetus shower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-hunt/before-a-baby-is-born-you-have-a-baby-shower-not-a-fetus-shower/) [June Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-hunt/) > [Scientifically, there's no debate over whether the fetus is alive and human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/scientifically-there-s-no-debate-over-whether-the-fetus-is-alive-and/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [ \[Margot Hentoff\] thinks - first of all, she - this I hear from a lot of people beside her. She thinks that men have… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-hentoff/margot-hentoff-thinks-first-of-all-she-this-i-hear-from-a-lot-of/) [Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) > [A pregnant woman and her spouse dream of three babies--the perfect four-month-old who rewards them with smiles and musical cooing,the impaired baby, who changes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-berry-brazelton/a-pregnant-woman-and-her-spouse-dream-of-three-babies-the-perfect/) [T. Berry Brazelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-berry-brazelton/) ## More by Garrett Hardin > [Ecological differentiation is the necessary condition for coexistence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/ecological-differentiation-is-the-necessary-condition-for-coexistence/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [Fundamentalists are panicked by the apparent disintegration of the family, the disappearance of certainty and the decay of morality. Fear leads them to ask,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/fundamentalists-are-panicked-by-the-apparent-disintegration-of-the/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [Indeed, our particular concept of private property, which deters us from exhausting the positive resources of the earth, favors pollution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/indeed-our-particular-concept-of-private-property-which-deters-us/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [“Individualism is cherished because it produces freedom, but the gift is conditional.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/individualism-is-cherished-because-it-produces-freedom-but-the-gift/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [But it is no good using the tongs of reason to pull the Fundamentalists' chestnuts out of the fire of contradiction. Their real troubles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/but-it-is-no-good-using-the-tongs-of-reason-to-pull-the/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [To say that we mutually agree to coercion is not to say that we are required to enjoy it, or even to pretend we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/to-say-that-we-mutually-agree-to-coercion-is-not-to-say-that-we-are/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [The god who is reputed to have created fleas to keep dogs from moping over their situation must also have created fundamentalists to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/the-god-who-is-reputed-to-have-created-fleas-to-keep-dogs-from-moping/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [It takes five years for a willing person's mind to change. Have patience with yourself and others when treading in an area protected by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/it-takes-five-years-for-a-willing-person-s-mind-to-change-have/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [Economists (and others) who are satisfied with nature-free equations develop a dangerous hubris about the potency of our species](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/economists-and-others-who-are-satisfied-with-nature-free-equations/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [No one should be able to enter a wilderness by mechanical means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/no-one-should-be-able-to-enter-a-wilderness-by-mechanical-means/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [The morality of an act is a function of the state of the system at the time it is performed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/the-morality-of-an-act-is-a-function-of-the-state-of-the-system-at/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [Value is a relative concept: the value of each action is determined by comparing it with other possible actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/value-is-a-relative-concept-the-value-of-each-action-is-determined-by/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [The optimum population is, then, less than the maximum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/the-optimum-population-is-then-less-than-the-maximum/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [(Technology reliability) x (Human reliability) = (System reliability)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/technology-reliability-x-human-reliability-system-reliability/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [Numeracy: 1. The art of putting numbers to things, that is, assigning amounts to variables in order that practical decisions may be reach. 2.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/numeracy-1-the-art-of-putting-numbers-to-things-that-is-assigning/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) [Explore all 60 Garrett Hardin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) ## More Abortion quotes > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) [Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/) > [Hey everyone, in case y'all didn't hear, I'm pregnat, and after discussing it w/ my family, I've decided to get an abortion, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-badesheim/hey-everyone-in-case-y-all-didn-t-hear-i-m-pregnat-and-after/) [Madison Badesheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-badesheim/) > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [My favorite Founding Fathers, Christians like John Adams, were absolutely appalled by slavery, and did not own slaves. I think we're going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/my-favorite-founding-fathers-christians-like-john-adams-were/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [“David Bereit, Founder of Forty Days for Life, points out that any abortion clinic in America should have a sign in its window that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-price/david-bereit-founder-of-forty-days-for-life-points-out-that-any/) [John Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-price/) > [The Chinese describe themselves as political refugees. Many base that claim on China's strict population laws, which allow them to have only one child.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/the-chinese-describe-themselves-as-political-refugees-many-base-that/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [I'm a pro-life candidate because I believe that science is proving us right every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-m-a-pro-life-candidate-because-i-believe-that-science-is-proving-us/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [I've noticed that everyone who is for abortion…has been born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-noticed-that-everyone-who-is-for-abortion-has-been-born/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [We talk a lot about how abortion is a medical procedure, but actually if you look at what the other side is doing, they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-northup/we-talk-a-lot-about-how-abortion-is-a-medical-procedure-but-actually/) [Nancy Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-northup/) > [“The Vatican won't prosecute pedophile priests but I decide I'm not ready for motherhood and it's condemnation for me? These are the same people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-renee-taylor/the-vatican-won-t-prosecute-pedophile-priests-but-i-decide-i-m-not/) [Sonya Renee Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-renee-taylor/) > [Pro-lifers have long been castigated for bringing private values into the public square. But actually it is the pro-abortion position that is based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/pro-lifers-have-long-been-castigated-for-bringing-private-values-into/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [I am 100 percent pro-life and have been my whole life. That means I am opposed to abortion at any stage of pregnancy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hawley/i-am-100-percent-pro-life-and-have-been-my-whole-life-that-means-i-am/) [Josh Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hawley/) > [Any woman should have the right to a safe and legal abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-ford/any-woman-should-have-the-right-to-a-safe-and-legal-abortion/) [Betty Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-ford/) > [“For Republicans, life begins at conception but ends at birth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-adam-snyder/for-republicans-life-begins-at-conception-but-ends-at-birth/) [J.Adam Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-adam-snyder/) > [I think fundamentally, the real power behind the anti-choice movement in regard to abortion and the opposition to the rights of LGBT Americans is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-w-lynn/i-think-fundamentally-the-real-power-behind-the-anti-choice-movement/) [Barry W. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-w-lynn/) [Browse all 1,629 Abortion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the specific case of abortion, the matter is particularly easy in that no woman wants a late abortion. Once abortion was made legal, the age of the aborted fetus went down. The slope slipped in the other direction. If we legalize RU-486 and other similar new drugs, the age will fall to one week or less and start approaching zero. The slippery slope will slide in the other direction. 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