--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When one comes to think of it, there are…" description: "\"When one comes to think of it, there are no such things as divine, immutable, or inalienable rights. Rights are things we get when we are strong enough..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e35/helen-keller-429_citizenship_when-one-comes-to-think-of-it-there-are_1470397.png" --- # When one comes to think of it, there are no such things as… ![“When one comes to think of it, there are no such things as divine, immutable, or inalienable rights. Rights are things we get when we are strong enough to make good our claim on them.” quote by Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e35/helen-keller-429_citizenship_when-one-comes-to-think-of-it-there-are_1470397.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e35/helen-keller-429_citizenship_when-one-comes-to-think-of-it-there-are_1470397.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e35/helen-keller-429_citizenship_when-one-comes-to-think-of-it-there-are_1470397.png) > “When one comes to think of it, there are no such things as divine, immutable, or inalienable rights. Rights are things we get when we are strong enough to make good our claim on them.” [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She argues that rights are not inherent but earned through collective strength and advocacy. **In simple terms:** Rights come from power and effort, not divine grant. Key Takeaway Work to build strength to claim rights. Themes rights power social justice Mood determined hopeful Type political inspirational When to use this quote - activism - legislation - community organizing Key Concepts social contract human rights Questions to Reflect On - What rights do you feel are most vulnerable today? - How can communities strengthen their claim to rights? A Different Perspective Rights can be lost if power wanes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Citizenship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizenship/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Inalienable rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inalienable-rights/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Strong enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-enough/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“Doing the rights things, even though no one knows about it, is much better to me than being known as a person who does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-s-haraburda/doing-the-rights-things-even-though-no-one-knows-about-it-is-much/) [Scott S. Haraburda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-s-haraburda/) > [Individuals have rights and there are things no person or group may do to them (without violating their rights).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nozick/individuals-have-rights-and-there-are-things-no-person-or-group-may/) [Robert Nozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nozick/) > [Human rights are not things that are put on the table for people to enjoy. These are things you fight for and then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/human-rights-are-not-things-that-are-put-on-the-table-for-people-to/) [Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/) > [Feminism is rooted in racial rights and gender rights, and all of those things intersect, and to say that that's not something you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-davis/feminism-is-rooted-in-racial-rights-and-gender-rights-and-all-of/) [Mackenzie Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-davis/) > [I think there are a whole host of things that are civil rights, and then there are other things - such as traditional marriage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-there-are-a-whole-host-of-things-that-are-civil-rights-and/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [One day all the rights things you ever did will never be considered once you make one single mistake, and that how life it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe/one-day-all-the-rights-things-you-ever-did-will-never-be-considered/) [Simphiwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe/) > [Also, rights are not things that are given in the heavens. Rather, they are levers for political articulations, which enables what was previously invisible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-critchley/also-rights-are-not-things-that-are-given-in-the-heavens-rather-they/) [Simon Critchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-critchley/) > [I'm pretty political when it comes to human rights and things like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-krause/i-m-pretty-political-when-it-comes-to-human-rights-and-things-like/) [Peter Krause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-krause/) > [“Man did not enter into society to become worse than he was before, nor to have fewer rights than he had before, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/man-did-not-enter-into-society-to-become-worse-than-he-was-before-nor/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“By attempting to give everyone rights, no one has rights”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-herfst/by-attempting-to-give-everyone-rights-no-one-has-rights/) [Stephen Herfst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-herfst/) > [Man did not enter society to be worse off, or to have fewer rights, but rather to have those rights better secured](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/man-did-not-enter-society-to-be-worse-off-or-to-have-fewer-rights-but/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Without property rights, no other rights are possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/without-property-rights-no-other-rights-are-possible/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [People have no human rights, only the rights that they can gain on the labour market. Above all, wealth and power have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/people-have-no-human-rights-only-the-rights-that-they-can-gain-on-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It does not matter what country we live in, who our leaders are, or even who we are. Because we are human, we therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/it-does-not-matter-what-country-we-live-in-who-our-leaders-are-or/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [You have to remember, rights don't come in groups we shouldn't have 'gay rights'; rights come as individuals, and we wouldn't have this major…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/you-have-to-remember-rights-don-t-come-in-groups-we-shouldn-t-have/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) ## More by Helen Keller > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [I rejoice to live in such a splendidly disturbing time!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-rejoice-to-live-in-such-a-splendidly-disturbing-time/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [The clatter of a changing world is not pleasant, and those who have enjoyed the comforts and protection of the old order may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/the-clatter-of-a-changing-world-is-not-pleasant-and-those-who-have/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Be of good cheer. Do not think of today's failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourselves a difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/be-of-good-cheer-do-not-think-of-today-s-failures-but-of-the-success/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [When indeed shall we learn that we are all related one to the other, that we are all members of one body? Until the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/when-indeed-shall-we-learn-that-we-are-all-related-one-to-the-other/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [I have visited sweatshops, factories, and crowded slums. If I could not see it, I could smell it. The foundation of society is laid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-have-visited-sweatshops-factories-and-crowded-slums-if-i-could-not/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [If we do not like our work, and do not try to get happiness out of it, we are a menace to our profession…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/if-we-do-not-like-our-work-and-do-not-try-to-get-happiness-out-of-it/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/alone-we-can-do-so-little-together-we-can-do-so-much/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [I do not want the peace which passeth understanding, I want the understanding which bringeth peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-do-not-want-the-peace-which-passeth-understanding-i-want-the/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/although-the-world-is-full-of-suffering-it-is-also-full-of-the/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Love? Why ... it is what everybody feels for everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/love-why-it-is-what-everybody-feels-for-everybody-else/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Blindness separates us from things but deafness separates us from people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/blindness-separates-us-from-things-but-deafness-separates-us-from/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [A simple, childlike faith in a Divine Friend solves all the problems that come to us by land or sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/a-simple-childlike-faith-in-a-divine-friend-solves-all-the-problems/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“A beam from the everlasting sun of God. Rude and unresponsive are the stones; Yet in them divine things lie concealed; I hear their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/a-beam-from-the-everlasting-sun-of-god-rude-and-unresponsive-are-the/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [I can see in what you call the dark, but which to me is golden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-can-see-in-what-you-call-the-dark-but-which-to-me-is-golden/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) [Explore all 568 Helen Keller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) ## More Citizenship quotes > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [If you don't plan to live the Christian life totally committed to knowing your God and to walking in obedience to Him, then don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-arthur/if-you-don-t-plan-to-live-the-christian-life-totally-committed-to/) [Kay Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-arthur/) > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [There can be a debate on the Citizenship Amendment Act, but why should we shelter someone who has come to India illegally from outside?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raj-thackeray/there-can-be-a-debate-on-the-citizenship-amendment-act-but-why-should/) [Raj Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raj-thackeray/) > [Motherland is our property and we have right to handle our properties as pleased. The jokes about death for the sake of the motherland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/motherland-is-our-property-and-we-have-right-to-handle-our-properties/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Your best friends are your principles, if you havent them, dont look for another friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/your-best-friends-are-your-principles-if-you-havent-them-dont-look/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [The point I wish plainly to bring before you on this occasion is the individuality of each human soul--our Protestant idea, the right of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/the-point-i-wish-plainly-to-bring-before-you-on-this-occasion-is-the/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [A strong saying is not afraid of criticism, because it includes all the answers to criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-strong-saying-is-not-afraid-of-criticism-because-it-includes-all/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Undeniably, character does count for our citizens, out communities, and our Nation, and this week we celebrate the importance of character in our individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/undeniably-character-does-count-for-our-citizens-out-communities-and/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [“Encouraging Robert E. Lee to take a job as college president, "You might be presenting to the world in such a position an example…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-nelson-pendleton/encouraging-robert-e-lee-to-take-a-job-as-college-president-you-might/) William Nelson Pendleton > [“What constitutes an American? Not color nor race nor religion. Not the pedigree of his family nor the place of his birth. Not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ickes/what-constitutes-an-american-not-color-nor-race-nor-religion-not-the/) Harold Ickes > [In an age of interdependence, global citizenship - based on trust and sense of shared responsibility - is a crucial pillar of progress. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/in-an-age-of-interdependence-global-citizenship-based-on-trust-and/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Strengthening our identity is one way of reinforcing people's confidence and sense of citizenship and well-being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-blunkett/strengthening-our-identity-is-one-way-of-reinforcing-people-s/) [David Blunkett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-blunkett/) > [We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/we-are-not-to-simply-bandage-the-wounds-of-victims-beneath-the-wheels/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) [Browse all 793 Citizenship quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizenship/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When one comes to think of it, there are no such things as divine, immutable, or inalienable rights. 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