--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My rights are not derived from any…" description: "\"“My rights are not derived from any government. My rights are not denied by any majority. My rights are because I exist.”\" — Joe Biden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e9/joe-biden-454_civil-rights_my-rights-are-not-derived-from-any-gover_2851724.jpg" --- # My rights are not derived from any government. My rights… ![“My rights are not derived from any government. My rights are not denied by any majority. My rights are because I exist.” quote by Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e9/joe-biden-454_civil-rights_my-rights-are-not-derived-from-any-gover_2851724.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e9/joe-biden-454_civil-rights_my-rights-are-not-derived-from-any-gover_2851724.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e9/joe-biden-454_civil-rights_my-rights-are-not-derived-from-any-gover_2851724.jpg) > ““My rights are not derived from any government. My rights are not denied by any majority. My rights are because I exist.”” [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rights stem from inherent human existence, not from governmental grant or majority rule. **In simple terms:** Rights are inherent to existence. Key Takeaway Recognize inherent human rights. Themes human rights politics equality Mood assertive hopeful Type political ethical When to use this quote - civil rights activism - legal reform - education - policy advocacy Key Concepts philosophy social contract Questions to Reflect On - How can societies protect inherent rights? - What responsibilities accompany inherent rights? A Different Perspective Rights can be contested in practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civil rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) ## Related quotes > [I believe all Americans are born with certain inalienable rights. As a child of God, I believe my rights are not derived from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-believe-all-americans-are-born-with-certain-inalienable-rights-as-a/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Are you kidding me? It's insane that civil rights are being denied people in this day and age. It's embarrassing, and it's heartbreaking. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evans/are-you-kidding-me-it-s-insane-that-civil-rights-are-being-denied/) [Chris Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evans/) > [Today, at Harvard, any student with the currently fashionable color of skin is given rights denied to students of the currently unfashionable color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-capp/today-at-harvard-any-student-with-the-currently-fashionable-color-of/) [Al Capp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-capp/) > [ In a free government the security for civil rights must be the same as that for religious rights. ...under the republican forms \[of government\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/in-a-free-government-the-security-for-civil-rights-must-be-the-same-3/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [“If half this country feels so threatened by two people of the same gender being in love and having sex (and, incidentally, enjoying equal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-levy/if-half-this-country-feels-so-threatened-by-two-people-of-the-same/) [Ariel Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-levy/) > [Indeed, in a free government almost all other rights would become worthless if the government possessed power over the private fortune of every citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-marshall/indeed-in-a-free-government-almost-all-other-rights-would-become/) [John Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-marshall/) > [The source of the government's authority is “the consent of the governed.” This means that the government is not the ruler, but the servant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/the-source-of-the-government-s-authority-is-the-consent-of-the/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [We see all around the world where women's rights are denied, where governments don't believe in educating their girls. There are 800 million people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bush/we-see-all-around-the-world-where-women-s-rights-are-denied-where/) [Laura Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bush/) > [We know that if one man's rights are denied, the rights of all are endangered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kennedy/we-know-that-if-one-man-s-rights-are-denied-the-rights-of-all-are/) [Robert Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kennedy/) > [GOVERNMENT has no rights; it is a delegation from several individuals for the purpose of securing their own. It is therefore just, only so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/government-has-no-rights-it-is-a-delegation-from-several-individuals/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [If government can give you rights, government can take them away from you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/if-government-can-give-you-rights-government-can-take-them-away-from/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [The government was set to protect man from criminals-and the constitution was written to protect man from the government. The Bill of Rights was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/the-government-was-set-to-protect-man-from-criminals-and-the/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [I have been the victim of many of the injustices that women who are my clients have had. That is how I understand how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-allred/i-have-been-the-victim-of-many-of-the-injustices-that-women-who-are/) [Gloria Allred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-allred/) > [That these are our grievances which we have thus laid before his majesty, with that freedom of language and sentiment which becomes a free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/that-these-are-our-grievances-which-we-have-thus-laid-before-his/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A free people claim their rights as derived from the laws of nature, and not as the gift of their magistrate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-free-people-claim-their-rights-as-derived-from-the-laws-of-nature/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More by Joe Biden > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I always kid the president in different circumstances. Mr. President, a country's never going to be more optimistic than the president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-always-kid-the-president-in-different-circumstances-mr-president-a/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Anybody who pretends that how you read the 10th and 11th Amendment doesn't have a fundamental impact on the things we care about is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/anybody-who-pretends-that-how-you-read-the-10th-and-11th-amendment/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“He wanted me to understand two big things: First, that nobody, no group, is above others. Public servants are obliged to level with everybody,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/he-wanted-me-to-understand-two-big-things-first-that-nobody-no-group/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Don't hold against me that I don't own - that I don't own a single stock or bond. Don't hold it - I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/don-t-hold-against-me-that-i-don-t-own-that-i-don-t-own-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“True bravery is when there is very little chance of winning, but you keep fighting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/true-bravery-is-when-there-is-very-little-chance-of-winning-but-you/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [No public funding for abortion; it imposes a view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/no-public-funding-for-abortion-it-imposes-a-view/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I've known and continue to know every one of these major world leaders by their first names, and I have access to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-ve-known-and-continue-to-know-every-one-of-these-major-world/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [We are working to deploy a powerful new radar network with American early warning systems,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/we-are-working-to-deploy-a-powerful-new-radar-network-with-american/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I'm joking, I'm joking. Best decision I ever made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-m-joking-i-m-joking-best-decision-i-ever-made/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [ Somalis have made my city of Wilmington, Delaware, \[their home\] on a smaller scale. There is a large, very identifiable Somali community, i might… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/somalis-have-made-my-city-of-wilmington-delaware-their-home-on-a/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“And don’t any of you, by the way, any of you guys vote Republican. I’m not supposed to say, this isn’t political. …don’t come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/and-don-t-any-of-you-by-the-way-any-of-you-guys-vote-republican-i-m/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [We also wanted to change the story - change the approach to the 21st century on energy, on education, on transportation, on infrastructure, generally,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/we-also-wanted-to-change-the-story-change-the-approach-to-the-21st/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The spirit of Thanksgiving rests in our recognizing the blessings in our lives, and as we all take stock, I hope you will join…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/the-spirit-of-thanksgiving-rests-in-our-recognizing-the-blessings-in/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The president has a big stick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/the-president-has-a-big-stick/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) [Explore all 546 Joe Biden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) ## More Civil rights quotes > [Every one knows that the exercise of military power is forever dangerous to civil rights; and we have had recent instances of violences that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/every-one-knows-that-the-exercise-of-military-power-is-forever/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-for-freedom-of-religion-and-against-all-maneuvers-to-bring-about/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I speak not for myself, but so those without a voice can be heard. Those who have fought for their rights. Their right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malala-yousafzai/i-speak-not-for-myself-but-so-those-without-a-voice-can-be-heard/) [Malala Yousafzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malala-yousafzai/) > [The Patriot Act is certainly a concern; all of those things are dangerous. I think more important than me preaching is that we as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-patriot-act-is-certainly-a-concern-all-of-those-things-are/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“Why do we apologize for advocating for ourselves? Why do we apologize for taking up space that we are entitled to? Why do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-tambascio/why-do-we-apologize-for-advocating-for-ourselves-why-do-we-apologize/) Elizabeth Tambascio > [We are a nation of innovators and problem-solvers who sparked revolutions in democratic government, civil rights, communications, flight, rural electrification and technology. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-a-mcchrystal/we-are-a-nation-of-innovators-and-problem-solvers-who-sparked/) [Stanley A. McChrystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-a-mcchrystal/) > [“Mental illness is not something you misunderstand in this era. Get educated because bias is no different than racism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/mental-illness-is-not-something-you-misunderstand-in-this-era-get/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Civil rights leaders are involved in helping poor people. That's what I've been doing all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/civil-rights-leaders-are-involved-in-helping-poor-people-that-s-what/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [I grew up in the early '60s, and there was a lot of civil rights, a lot of unrest in our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herm-edwards/i-grew-up-in-the-early-60s-and-there-was-a-lot-of-civil-rights-a-lot/) [Herm Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herm-edwards/) > [The great paradox of the civil rights revolution is that instead of enforcing and expanding equality before the law, the revolution created differential rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/the-great-paradox-of-the-civil-rights-revolution-is-that-instead-of/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [The world - and America - has been defined by people who haven't necessarily abided by the laws and the rules. Civil disobedience is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-kennedy/the-world-and-america-has-been-defined-by-people-who-haven-t/) [Rory Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-kennedy/) > [I do not believe that defending traditional marriage between one man and one woman excludes anybody or usurps anybody's civil rights and denies anybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-autry/i-do-not-believe-that-defending-traditional-marriage-between-one-man/) [Alan Autry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-autry/) > [Truth is on the side of the oppressed today, it's against the oppressor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/truth-is-on-the-side-of-the-oppressed-today-it-s-against-the-oppressor/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [The notion of women being written out of history is as old as the Bible, but it always seems more galling when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thornberry/the-notion-of-women-being-written-out-of-history-is-as-old-as-the/) [Emily Thornberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thornberry/) [Browse all 1,552 Civil rights quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“My rights are not derived from any government. 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