--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are vegans not simply because being…" description: "\"We are vegans not simply because being vegan will reduce suffering. We are vegan because every sentient being values her or his life even if no one els..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23e/gary-l-francione-8902_doe_we-are-vegans-not-simply-because-being-v_2383443.jpg" --- # We are vegans not simply because being vegan will reduce… ![“We are vegans not simply because being vegan will reduce suffering. We are vegan because every sentient being values her or his life even if no one else does. We are vegan because justice minimally requires that we not take life for trivial purposes.” quote by Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23e/gary-l-francione-8902_doe_we-are-vegans-not-simply-because-being-v_2383443.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23e/gary-l-francione-8902_doe_we-are-vegans-not-simply-because-being-v_2383443.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23e/gary-l-francione-8902_doe_we-are-vegans-not-simply-because-being-v_2383443.jpg) > “We are vegans not simply because being vegan will reduce suffering. We are vegan because every sentient being values her or his life even if no one else does. We are vegan because justice minimally requires that we not take life for trivial purposes.” [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Veganism is presented as a moral stance rooted in respect for all sentient life, beyond personal benefit. **In simple terms:** Veganism respects all sentient life. Key Takeaway Adopt veganism for ethical consistency. Themes ethics animal rights justice compassion Mood determined empathetic Type ethical activist When to use this quote - dietary choice - activism - policy advocacy - personal lifestyle - educational outreach Key Concepts moral philosophy rights theory speciesism Questions to Reflect On - How does personal responsibility intersect with systemic change? - What alternatives exist for those unable to adopt veganism? A Different Perspective May overlook practical constraints like accessibility and cultural traditions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Sentient beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentient-beings/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Suffering Vegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering-vegan-5910944/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Vegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vegan/) [Vegan Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vegan-justice-5910945/) [Vegan Sentient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vegan-sentient-5910943/) [Vegans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vegans/) ## Related quotes > [I thought it was very elegant, a wonderful opening. The vegans seemed so surprised-God knows what they get to eat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gael-greene/i-thought-it-was-very-elegant-a-wonderful-opening-the-vegans-seemed/) [Gael Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gael-greene/) > [“vegetarians and vegans had significantly lower mortality than regular meat eaters for pancreatic cancer and digestive diseases, and fish eaters had significantly lower colorectal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-appleby/vegetarians-and-vegans-had-significantly-lower-mortality-than-regular/) [Paul Appleby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-appleby/) > [Farm animals, like dairy cows - who by nature are vegans - are routinely force-fed fish to increase their weight and milk production.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-gannon/farm-animals-like-dairy-cows-who-by-nature-are-vegans-are-routinely/) [Sharon Gannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-gannon/) > [In every respect, vegans appear to enjoy equal or better health in comparison to both vegetarians and non-vegetarians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-colin-campbell/in-every-respect-vegans-appear-to-enjoy-equal-or-better-health-in/) [T. Colin Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-colin-campbell/) > [Until a vegan or vegetarian enters the room, people don't see themselves as meat-eaters. They are merely 'eaters', and it is we vegans who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-j-adams/until-a-vegan-or-vegetarian-enters-the-room-people-don-t-see/) [Carol J. Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-j-adams/) > [Why are vegans made fun of while the inhumane factory farming process regards animals and the natural world merely as commodities to be exploited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-page/why-are-vegans-made-fun-of-while-the-inhumane-factory-farming-process/) [Ellen Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-page/) > [The error that many vegans make is forgetting that our food has novelty value. Non-vegans think our food is awful, but are fascinated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romesh-ranganathan/the-error-that-many-vegans-make-is-forgetting-that-our-food-has/) [Romesh Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romesh-ranganathan/) > [“Vegetarians and vegans can be incredibly annoying. Gene has a joke: ‘How can you tell if someone is a vegan? Just wait ten minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/vegetarians-and-vegans-can-be-incredibly-annoying-gene-has-a-joke-how/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) > [“Baby rats need rat milk, baby cats need cat milk, baby dogs need dog milk, baby humans need human milk, baby cows need cow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mango-wodzak/baby-rats-need-rat-milk-baby-cats-need-cat-milk-baby-dogs-need-dog/) [Mango Wodzak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mango-wodzak/) > [“All children should be encouraged to love and respect animals.. Not turn a blind eye to their suffering and stab forks into their dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mango-wodzak/all-children-should-be-encouraged-to-love-and-respect-animals-not/) [Mango Wodzak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mango-wodzak/) > [“Non-meat eaters, especially vegans, have a lower prevalence of hypertension and lower systolic and diastolic blood pressures than meat eaters, largely because of differences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-appleby/non-meat-eaters-especially-vegans-have-a-lower-prevalence-of/) [Paul Appleby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-appleby/) > [I would encourage them never to forget that they were not always vegans. The self-righteousness of the recently converted hurts, it does not help,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-regan/i-would-encourage-them-never-to-forget-that-they-were-not-always/) [Tom Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-regan/) > [I think there's this misconception about vegans, that it's impossible, and they're crazy or whatever. But it's not like that. You can be vegan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadie-sink/i-think-there-s-this-misconception-about-vegans-that-it-s-impossible/) [Sadie Sink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadie-sink/) > [Whenever I talk about loving vegan food, it starts a backlash. The vegans aren't happy with me because I'm not fully vegan and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-dent/whenever-i-talk-about-loving-vegan-food-it-starts-a-backlash-the/) [Grace Dent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-dent/) > [It were much better that a sentient being should never have existed, than that it should have existed only to endure unmitigated misery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/it-were-much-better-that-a-sentient-being-should-never-have-existed/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) ## More by Gary L. Francione > [Animal rights without veganism is like human rights with slavery. It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [Humans treat animals as things that exist as means to human ends. That's morally wrong. Sexism promotes the idea that women are things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/humans-treat-animals-as-things-that-exist-as-means-to-human-ends-that/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [“The notion that animals are not self-aware is based on nothing more than a stipulation that the only way to be self-aware is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/the-notion-that-animals-are-not-self-aware-is-based-on-nothing-more/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [There is no morally coherent difference between fur and other animal clothing, such as leather, wool, etc., just as there is no morally coherent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/there-is-no-morally-coherent-difference-between-fur-and-other-animal/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [We cannot talk simultaneously about animal rights and the 'humane' slaughter of animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/we-cannot-talk-simultaneously-about-animal-rights-and-the-humane/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [We can no more justify using nonhumans as human resources than we can justify human slavery. Animal use and slavery have at least one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/we-can-no-more-justify-using-nonhumans-as-human-resources-than-we-can/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [Because animals are property, we consider as "humane treatment" that we would regard as torture if it were inflicted on humans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/because-animals-are-property-we-consider-as-humane-treatment-that-we/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [Not only are the philosophies of animal rights and animal welfare separated by irreconcilable differences... the enactment of animal welfare measures actually impedes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/not-only-are-the-philosophies-of-animal-rights-and-animal-welfare/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [There is increasing social concern about our use of nonhumans for experiments, food, clothing and entertainment. This concern about animals reflects both our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/there-is-increasing-social-concern-about-our-use-of-nonhumans-for/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [Being vegan is easy. Are there social pressures that encourage you to continue to eat, wear, and use animal products? Of course there are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/being-vegan-is-easy-are-there-social-pressures-that-encourage-you-to/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [“Sentience is a means to the end of continued existence. Sentient beings, by virtue of their being sentient, have an interest in remaining alive;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/sentience-is-a-means-to-the-end-of-continued-existence-sentient/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [It costs us so little to go vegan. It costs animals so much if we don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/it-costs-us-so-little-to-go-vegan-it-costs-animals-so-much-if-we-don-t/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [In order to be a teacher you've got to be a student first](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/in-order-to-be-a-teacher-you-ve-got-to-be-a-student-first/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [We do not need to eat animals, wear animals, or use animals for entertainment purposes, and our only defence of these uses is our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/we-do-not-need-to-eat-animals-wear-animals-or-use-animals-for/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [But if there were two dogs left in the universe and it were up to us as to whether they were allowed to breed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/but-if-there-were-two-dogs-left-in-the-universe-and-it-were-up-to-us/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) [Explore all 77 Gary L. Francione quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) ## More Doe quotes > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict Scripture. MARTIN LUTHER, letter to Chancellor Gregory Brück, January 13,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/i-cannot-forbid-a-person-to-marry-several-wives-for-it-does-not/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. 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It doesn't have to be furnished with Picasso paintings, or Sheraton suites, or Oriental rugs, or Chinese pottery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-cain/a-home-is-not-a-museum-it-doesn-t-have-to-be-furnished-with-picasso/) [James M. Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-cain/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [He's a fool that marries; but he's a greater fool that does not marry a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wycherley/he-s-a-fool-that-marries-but-he-s-a-greater-fool-that-does-not-marry/) [William Wycherley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wycherley/) > [Nothing old is ever reborn but neither does it totally disappear. 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