--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is the West that has liberated women…" description: "\"It is the West that has liberated women, racial minorities, religious minorities, and gays and lesbians, recognizing and defending their rights. The no..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d7/ibn-warraq-17129_civilization_it-is-the-west-that-has-liberated-women_309869.png" --- # It is the West that has liberated women, racial… ![“It is the West that has liberated women, racial minorities, religious minorities, and gays and lesbians, recognizing and defending their rights. The notions of freedom and human rights were present at the dawn of Western civilization, as ideals at least, but have gradually come to fruition through…” quote by Ibn Warraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d7/ibn-warraq-17129_civilization_it-is-the-west-that-has-liberated-women_309869.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d7/ibn-warraq-17129_civilization_it-is-the-west-that-has-liberated-women_309869.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d7/ibn-warraq-17129_civilization_it-is-the-west-that-has-liberated-women_309869.png) > “It is the West that has liberated women, racial minorities, religious minorities, and gays and lesbians, recognizing and defending their rights. The notions of freedom and human rights were present at the dawn of Western civilization, as ideals at least, but have gradually come to fruition through supreme acts of self-criticism.” [Ibn Warraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-warraq/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Western civilization has gradually advanced freedoms for marginalized groups through self‑criticism and reform. **In simple terms:** The West has expanded rights via self‑critique. Key Takeaway Support self‑critical progress for equality. Themes freedom human rights Western civilization self‑criticism Mood analytical hopeful Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - activism - education - legal reform Key Concepts social evolution political theory Questions to Reflect On - How can self‑criticism foster equality? - What role do non‑Western societies play in human rights? A Different Perspective Progress is uneven; other cultures also contribute. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Dawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dawn/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Fruition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fruition/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Human rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-rights/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals/) [Liberated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberated/) [Liberated woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberated-woman/) [Liberated Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberated-women-686638/) [Minorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minorities/) [Notion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notion/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Recognizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognizing/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Rights Notions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights-notions-2942981/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-criticism/) [Supreme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supreme/) [West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/west/) [West Liberated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/west-liberated-2942980/) [Western](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western/) [Western civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western-civilization/) ## Related quotes > [Helen Weaver’s book was a revelation to me! Although I was a young woman in the fifties, I was there, but I wasn’t there!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-cassady/helen-weaver-s-book-was-a-revelation-to-me-although-i-was-a-young/) [Carolyn Cassady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-cassady/) > [Feminism liberated women from the natural dignity of their sex and turned them into inferior men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-parker-yockey/feminism-liberated-women-from-the-natural-dignity-of-their-sex-and/) [Francis Parker Yockey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-parker-yockey/) > [I like aggressive and sexually liberated women. It's hot to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cee-lo-green/i-like-aggressive-and-sexually-liberated-women-it-s-hot-to-me/) [Cee Lo Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cee-lo-green/) > [Because of its exceptional capacity for self-criticism, the West took the initiative in abolishing slavery; the calls for abolition did not resonate even in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-warraq/because-of-its-exceptional-capacity-for-self-criticism-the-west-took/) [Ibn Warraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-warraq/) > [The great ideas of the West - rationalism, self-criticism, the disinterested search for truth, the separation of church and state, the rule of law,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-warraq/the-great-ideas-of-the-west-rationalism-self-criticism-the/) [Ibn Warraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-warraq/) > [Even more than the Pill, what has liberated women is that they no longer need to depend on men economically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-bryant-quinn/even-more-than-the-pill-what-has-liberated-women-is-that-they-no/) [Jane Bryant Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-bryant-quinn/) > [“I called her Mrs. Bennington at her insistence. When I'd referred to her as Ms. Bennington, she'd nearly bitten my head off. She was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-called-her-mrs-bennington-at-her-insistence-when-i-d-referred-to/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [My theory is that men are no more liberated than women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/my-theory-is-that-men-are-no-more-liberated-than-women/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [“As a result, ostensibly liberated women often found themselves struggling with three full-time jobs: working inside the home, working outside the home, and trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debora-l-spar/as-a-result-ostensibly-liberated-women-often-found-themselves/) [Debora L. Spar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debora-l-spar/) > [“the new age of liberated women and how most women were fighting to pay half the expenses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-new-age-of-liberated-women-and-how-most-women-were-fighting-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I feel liberated being around women who are liberated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-waller-bridge/i-feel-liberated-being-around-women-who-are-liberated/) [Phoebe Waller-Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-waller-bridge/) > [Chanel liberated women: Saint Laurent gave them power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-berge/chanel-liberated-women-saint-laurent-gave-them-power/) [Pierre Berge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-berge/) > [The word revolution itself has become not only a dead relic of Leftism, but a key to the deadendedness of male politics: the revolution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/the-word-revolution-itself-has-become-not-only-a-dead-relic-of/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [To be liberated, woman must feel free to be herself, not in rivalry to man but in the context of her own capacity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/to-be-liberated-woman-must-feel-free-to-be-herself-not-in-rivalry-to/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) ## More by Ibn Warraq > [Monotheism is in its turn doomed to subtract one more God and become atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-warraq/monotheism-is-in-its-turn-doomed-to-subtract-one-more-god-and-become/) [Ibn Warraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-warraq/) > [I have always felt that many Christians, deeply sincere Christians, support the idea of separation of State and Church and the secularist in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-warraq/i-have-always-felt-that-many-christians-deeply-sincere-christians/) [Ibn Warraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-warraq/) > [In Saudi Arabia, among other countries, Muslims are not free to convert to Christianity, and Christians are not free to practice their faith. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-warraq/in-saudi-arabia-among-other-countries-muslims-are-not-free-to-convert/) [Ibn Warraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-warraq/) > [I wish more people would belabor the obvious, and more often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-warraq/i-wish-more-people-would-belabor-the-obvious-and-more-often/) [Ibn Warraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-warraq/) > [The great ideas of the West - rationalism, self-criticism, the disinterested search for truth, the separation of church and state, the rule of law,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-warraq/the-great-ideas-of-the-west-rationalism-self-criticism-the/) [Ibn Warraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-warraq/) > [Not only is the West so successful economically, but it leads the world scientifically, and culturally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-warraq/not-only-is-the-west-so-successful-economically-but-it-leads-the/) [Ibn Warraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-warraq/) > [Abolitionism did not find positive response in Africa as it did in Western societies and cultures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-warraq/abolitionism-did-not-find-positive-response-in-africa-as-it-did-in/) [Ibn Warraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-warraq/) > [The greatest number of drug addicts are to be found in Teheran and in Karachi, not in the West. Not in New York believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-warraq/the-greatest-number-of-drug-addicts-are-to-be-found-in-teheran-and-in/) [Ibn Warraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-warraq/) > [Of course slavery and the Muslims were deeply implicated in the slave trade, Islam was an Imperialist religion which destroyed Christianity in the Near…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-warraq/of-course-slavery-and-the-muslims-were-deeply-implicated-in-the-slave/) [Ibn Warraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-warraq/) > [I think forgiveness plays a very important part in Western society and it comes from the Judeo Christian heritage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-warraq/i-think-forgiveness-plays-a-very-important-part-in-western-society/) [Ibn Warraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-warraq/) > [Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness: this triptych succinctly defines the attractiveness and superiority of Western civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-warraq/life-liberty-and-the-pursuit-of-happiness-this-triptych-succinctly/) [Ibn Warraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-warraq/) > [The rich countries are rich because of their practices at home, and because of their readiness to adopt and adapt new things, such as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-warraq/the-rich-countries-are-rich-because-of-their-practices-at-home-and/) [Ibn Warraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-warraq/) > [A culture that gave the world the spiritual creations of the Classical Music of Mozart, Beethoven, Wagner and Schubert, the paintings of Michelangelo, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-warraq/a-culture-that-gave-the-world-the-spiritual-creations-of-the/) [Ibn Warraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-warraq/) > [We cannot hope to win the ideological battle against Islam without criticism of Islam, it is essential that we continue to criticize Islam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-warraq/we-cannot-hope-to-win-the-ideological-battle-against-islam-without/) [Ibn Warraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-warraq/) > [You can't grow up without taking a few knocks on the way. All parents know that, but children when they're growing up, they take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-warraq/you-can-t-grow-up-without-taking-a-few-knocks-on-the-way-all-parents/) [Ibn Warraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-warraq/) [Explore all 38 Ibn Warraq quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-warraq/) ## More Civilization quotes > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Sentiment is the mightiest force in civilization; not sentimentality, but sentiment. Women will bring this into politics. 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Each civilization dies from indifference toward the unique values which created it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-gomez-davila/violence-is-not-necessary-to-destroy-a-civilization-each-civilization/) [Nicolas Gomez Davila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-gomez-davila/) > [“The voice in the head that never stops speaking becomes a civilization that is obsessed with form and therefore knows nothing of the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-voice-in-the-head-that-never-stops-speaking-becomes-a/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [We released 400,000 classified documents, the most extraordinary history of a war to ever have been released in our civilization. Those documents cover 109,000…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/we-released-400-000-classified-documents-the-most-extraordinary/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Whenever we touch nature we get clean. 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We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Once we allow ourselves to be disobedient to the test of an accountant's profit, we have begun to change our civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/once-we-allow-ourselves-to-be-disobedient-to-the-test-of-an/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [Our laws and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of the Redeemer of mankind. 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