--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: However insignificant the minority, and…" description: "\"However insignificant the minority, and however trifling the proposed trespass against their rights, no such trespass is permissible.\" — Herbert Spencer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/080/herbert-spencer-1765_insignificant_however-insignificant-the-minority-and-h_822503.jpg" --- # However insignificant the minority, and however trifling… ![“However insignificant the minority, and however trifling the proposed trespass against their rights, no such trespass is permissible.” quote by Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/080/herbert-spencer-1765_insignificant_however-insignificant-the-minority-and-h_822503.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/080/herbert-spencer-1765_insignificant_however-insignificant-the-minority-and-h_822503.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/080/herbert-spencer-1765_insignificant_however-insignificant-the-minority-and-h_822503.jpg) > “However insignificant the minority, and however trifling the proposed trespass against their rights, no such trespass is permissible.” [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even minor infringements on rights are unacceptable; protect all rights. **In simple terms:** Protect all rights, no matter how small. Key Takeaway Defend every right. Themes justice rights minorities Mood serious concerned Type ethical political When to use this quote - civil rights activism - policy making - community organizing Key Concepts Legal theory ethical philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What rights do we take for granted? - How should societies prioritize rights? A Different Perspective Balancing majority rule with minority protection can be complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Insignificant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insignificant/) [Insignificant Minority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insignificant-minority-484368/) [Libertarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarian/) [Libertarianism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarianism/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Minorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minorities/) [Minority Trifling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minority-trifling-484370/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Rights Trespass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights-trespass-484369/) [Trespass Permissible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trespass-permissible-484372/) [Trespass Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trespass-rights-484371/) [Trifling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trifling/) ## Related quotes > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To a philosopher no circumstance, however trifling, is too minute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/to-a-philosopher-no-circumstance-however-trifling-is-too-minute/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [When whole races and peoples conspire to propagate gigantic mute lies in the interest of tyrannies and shams, why should we care anything about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/when-whole-races-and-peoples-conspire-to-propagate-gigantic-mute-lies/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [The question of historicity and actuality with regard to gods and unicorns is a relatively trifling matter which may be left to antiquarians and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odell-shepard/the-question-of-historicity-and-actuality-with-regard-to-gods-and/) [Odell Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/odell-shepard/) > [The foolish undertake a trifling act, and soon desist, discouraged; wise men engage in mighty works, and persevere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magha/the-foolish-undertake-a-trifling-act-and-soon-desist-discouraged-wise/) [Magha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magha/) > [“The pettiest and slightest nuisances are the most acute; and as small letters hurt and tire the eyes most, so do trifling matters sting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-pettiest-and-slightest-nuisances-are-the-most-acute-and-as-small/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [In revolutions the occasions may be trifling but great interest are at stake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/in-revolutions-the-occasions-may-be-trifling-but-great-interest-are/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [There are many points in the history of an invention which the inventor himself is apt to overlook as trifling, but in which posterity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brewster/there-are-many-points-in-the-history-of-an-invention-which-the/) [David Brewster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brewster/) > [“Genius is not a retainer to any emperor, or is its material silver, or gold, or marble, except to a trifling extent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/genius-is-not-a-retainer-to-any-emperor-or-is-its-material-silver-or/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [True lovers know how trifling a thing is money yet how difficult to blend with love!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/true-lovers-know-how-trifling-a-thing-is-money-yet-how-difficult-to/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All that the Y.M.C.A.'s horse and rings really accomplished was to fill me with an ineradicable distaste, not only for Christian endeavor in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/all-that-the-y-m-c-a-s-horse-and-rings-really-accomplished-was-to/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Listening doesn't mean trying to understand. Anything, however trifling, may be of use one day. What matters is to know something that others don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/listening-doesn-t-mean-trying-to-understand-anything-however-trifling/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [Fashion is a great restraint upon your persons of taste and fancy; who would otherwise in the most trifling instances be able to distinguish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shenstone/fashion-is-a-great-restraint-upon-your-persons-of-taste-and-fancy-who/) [William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) > [To give importance to trifling matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heywood/to-give-importance-to-trifling-matters/) [John Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heywood/) > [First, there is the power of the Wind, constantly exerted over the globe... Here is an almost incalculable power at our disposal, yet how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/first-there-is-the-power-of-the-wind-constantly-exerted-over-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More by Herbert Spencer > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [No physiologist who calmly considers the question in connection with the general truths of his science, can long resist the conviction that different parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/no-physiologist-who-calmly-considers-the-question-in-connection-with/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Any piece of knowledge which the pupil has himself acquired- any problem which he has himself solved, becomes, by virtue of the conquest, much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/any-piece-of-knowledge-which-the-pupil-has-himself-acquired-any/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Conservatism defends those coercive arrangements which a still-lingering savageness makes requisite. Radicalism endeavours to realize a state more in harmony with the character of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/conservatism-defends-those-coercive-arrangements-which-a-still/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Absolute morality is the regulation of conduct in such a way that pain shall not be inflicted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/absolute-morality-is-the-regulation-of-conduct-in-such-a-way-that/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [When a man's knowledge is not in order, the more of it he has the greater will be his confusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/when-a-man-s-knowledge-is-not-in-order-the-more-of-it-he-has-the/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [The cruelty of a Fijian god, who, represented as devouring the souls of the dead, may be supposed to inflict torture during the process,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/the-cruelty-of-a-fijian-god-who-represented-as-devouring-the-souls-of/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [The liberty the citizen enjoys is to be measured not by governmental machinery he lives under, whether representative or other, but by the paucity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/the-liberty-the-citizen-enjoys-is-to-be-measured-not-by-governmental/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [I had a great dislike to the annoyances entailed by baggage; and it was always with some feeling of elation that I cut myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/i-had-a-great-dislike-to-the-annoyances-entailed-by-baggage-and-it/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Progress, therefore, is not an accident, but a necessity…It is a part of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/progress-therefore-is-not-an-accident-but-a-necessity-it-is-a-part-of/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Surely in much talk there cannot choose but be much vanity. Loquacity is the fistula of the mind,--ever-running and almost incurable, let every man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/surely-in-much-talk-there-cannot-choose-but-be-much-vanity-loquacity/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [No one can be perfectly free till all are free; no one can be perfectly moral till all are moral; no one can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/no-one-can-be-perfectly-free-till-all-are-free-no-one-can-be/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Only when Genius is married to Science can the highest results be produced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/only-when-genius-is-married-to-science-can-the-highest-results-be/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [It cannot but happen?that those will survive whose functions happen to be most nearly in equilibrium with the modified aggregate of external forces? This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/it-cannot-but-happen-that-those-will-survive-whose-functions-happen/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [“Before he can remake his society, his society must make him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/before-he-can-remake-his-society-his-society-must-make-him/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) [Explore all 210 Herbert Spencer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) ## More Insignificant quotes > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You are Insignificant. One of millions, neither special nor unique. I did not ask for this ignominy, and I resent the comparison. Fine. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/you-are-insignificant-one-of-millions-neither-special-nor-unique-i/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“Don't you get it yet? The minute we decide that one person doesn't matter anymore, they've won."..."Beneath a sky crowded with a billion stars.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/don-t-you-get-it-yet-the-minute-we-decide-that-one-person-doesn-t/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [As much as I don't care about those things, I think it's human nature to not want to feel totally insignificant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/as-much-as-i-don-t-care-about-those-things-i-think-it-s-human-nature/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [I look back, now, and I know that the naming moment, which seemed so insignificant then, which seemed to demand no more than an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/i-look-back-now-and-i-know-that-the-naming-moment-which-seemed-so/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [Our life is what we make it. An insignificant game or a noble trial; a dream or a reality; a play of the senses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/our-life-is-what-we-make-it-an-insignificant-game-or-a-noble-trial-a/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [Am I foolish and insignificant or am I great? I gave all the individuals in the world cause to kneel down in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-myung-moon/am-i-foolish-and-insignificant-or-am-i-great-i-gave-all-the/) [Sun Myung Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-myung-moon/) > [Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/far-out-in-the-uncharted-backwaters-of-the-unfashionable-end-of-the/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [Of all human events, perhaps, the publication of a first volume of verses is the most insignificant; but though a matter of no moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/of-all-human-events-perhaps-the-publication-of-a-first-volume-of/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-marley/the-things-that-seem-insignificant-to-most-people-such-as-a-note-song/) [Bob Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-marley/) > [I found myself back in the sepulchral city resenting the sight of people hurrying through the streets to filch a little money from each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/i-found-myself-back-in-the-sepulchral-city-resenting-the-sight-of/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [“Our century is so shallow, its desires scattered so widely, our knowledge so encyclopedic, that we are absolutely unable to focus our designs on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolai-gogol/our-century-is-so-shallow-its-desires-scattered-so-widely-our/) [Nikolai Gogol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolai-gogol/) > [The first time you blow someone away is not an insignificant event. That said, there are some \*\*\*\*\*\*\*s in the world that just need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/the-first-time-you-blow-someone-away-is-not-an-insignificant-event/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [Rather than feeling lost and unimportant and meaningless, set against galaxies which go beyond the reach of the furthest telescopes, I feel that my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/rather-than-feeling-lost-and-unimportant-and-meaningless-set-against/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) [Browse all 625 Insignificant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insignificant/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "However insignificant the minority, and however trifling the proposed trespass against their rights, no such trespass is permissible.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herbert Spencer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/however-insignificant-the-minority-and-however-trifling-the-proposed/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Insignificant" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/however-insignificant-the-minority-and-however-trifling-the-proposed/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/080/herbert-spencer-1765_insignificant_however-insignificant-the-minority-and-h_822503.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/080/herbert-spencer-1765_insignificant_however-insignificant-the-minority-and-h_822503.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/080/herbert-spencer-1765_insignificant_however-insignificant-the-minority-and-h_822503.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“However insignificant the minority, and however trifling the proposed trespass against their rights, no such…” — Herbert Spencer", "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": "Herbert Spencer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "However insignificant the minority, and however...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/however-insignificant-the-minority-and-however-trifling-the-proposed/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/however-insignificant-the-minority-and-however-trifling-the-proposed/#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 } } ] } ```