--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The time has come to underscore the fact…" description: "\"The time has come to underscore the fact that our and others' rights are contingent on our willingness to assert and defend them.\" — John Charles Polanyi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/john-charles-polanyi-14475_assert_the-time-has-come-to-underscore-the-fact_3155127.png" --- # The time has come to underscore the fact that our and… ![“The time has come to underscore the fact that our and others' rights are contingent on our willingness to assert and defend them.” quote by John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/john-charles-polanyi-14475_assert_the-time-has-come-to-underscore-the-fact_3155127.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/john-charles-polanyi-14475_assert_the-time-has-come-to-underscore-the-fact_3155127.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/john-charles-polanyi-14475_assert_the-time-has-come-to-underscore-the-fact_3155127.png) > “The time has come to underscore the fact that our and others' rights are contingent on our willingness to assert and defend them.” [John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rights depend on active assertion and defense; passivity endangers them. **In simple terms:** Defend rights actively. Key Takeaway Speak up for rights. Themes human rights activism responsibility political engagement justice Mood determined hopeful Type activist educational When to use this quote - protests - legal advocacy - community organizing - education campaigns Key Concepts social contract civic duty empowerment Questions to Reflect On - What rights do you feel most compelled to defend? - How can you support others in asserting theirs? A Different Perspective Not all rights can be defended equally; power imbalances exist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assert/) [Assert Defend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assert-defend-5681043/) [Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come/) [Contingent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contingent/) [Contingent Willingness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contingent-willingness-5681045/) [Defend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defend/) [Fact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fact/) [Others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/others/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Rights Contingent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights-contingent-5681042/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Willingness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willingness/) [Willingness Assert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willingness-assert-5681044/) ## Related quotes > [Engineering, medicine, business, architecture and painting are concerned not with the necessary but with the contingent - not with how things are but with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-simon/engineering-medicine-business-architecture-and-painting-are-concerned/) [Herbert Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-simon/) > [The interest rate you receive, however, is contingent on your credit score.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-chatzky/the-interest-rate-you-receive-however-is-contingent-on-your-credit/) [Jean Chatzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-chatzky/) > [“Happiness is good management of expectations and good management means making order and assembling the contingent elements of the "do's'" and the "don'ts", the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/happiness-is-good-management-of-expectations-and-good-management/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [There is a new venue for theory, necessarily impure, where it emerges in and as the very event of cultural translation. 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What we have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Every day is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-griffith-wilson/we-are-not-cured-of-alcoholism-what-we-have-is-a-daily-reprieve/) [William Griffith Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-griffith-wilson/) > [We are aware that in 2005 our efforts to preserve the stability and prestige of the Republic of Bulgaria in the area of foreign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-aware-that-in-2005-our-efforts-to-preserve-the-stability-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Simply said, one is contingent through and through, partaking of being rather than generating it out of some source within oneself; and the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bentley-hart/simply-said-one-is-contingent-through-and-through-partaking-of-being/) [David Bentley Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bentley-hart/) > [Certainly we're always rooting for our particular contingent moment to be a great one. Pain-free. But the more expansive vision has to include the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/certainly-we-re-always-rooting-for-our-particular-contingent-moment/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [Look at situations as contingent, not as inevitable, look at them as the result of a series of historical choices made by men and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/look-at-situations-as-contingent-not-as-inevitable-look-at-them-as/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [“The loss of an eager and unrestrained longing for someone or the lack of an unyielding desire of momentous incidents in life may blur…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/the-loss-of-an-eager-and-unrestrained-longing-for-someone-or-the-lack/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) ## More by John Charles Polanyi > [The respect for human rights, essential if we are to use technology wisely, is not something alien that must be grafted onto science. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/the-respect-for-human-rights-essential-if-we-are-to-use-technology/) [John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/) > [In the late 1950s a major topic under discussion was whether Canada should acquire nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/in-the-late-1950s-a-major-topic-under-discussion-was-whether-canada/) [John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/) > [Though neglectful of their responsibility to protect science, scientists are increasingly aware of their responsibility to society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/though-neglectful-of-their-responsibility-to-protect-science/) [John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/) > [Some dreamers demand that scientists only discover things that can be used for good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/some-dreamers-demand-that-scientists-only-discover-things-that-can-be/) [John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/) > [ \[Intellectual courage is\] the quality that allows one to believe in one's judgement in the face of disappointment and widespread skepticism. Intellectual courage is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/intellectual-courage-is-the-quality-that-allows-one-to-believe-in-one/) [John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/) > [It takes a trained and discerning researcher to keep the goal in sight, and to detect evidence of the creeping progress toward it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/it-takes-a-trained-and-discerning-researcher-to-keep-the-goal-in/) [John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/) > [Individual scientists like myself - and many more conspicuous - pointed to the dangers of radioactive fallout over Canada if we were to launch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/individual-scientists-like-myself-and-many-more-conspicuous-pointed/) [John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/) > [At the heart of science lies discovery which involves a change in worldview. Discovery in science is possible only in societies which accord their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/at-the-heart-of-science-lies-discovery-which-involves-a-change-in/) [John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/) > [Science exists, moreover, only as a journey toward troth. Stifle dissent and you end that journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/science-exists-moreover-only-as-a-journey-toward-troth-stifle-dissent/) [John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/) > [Science never gives up searching for truth, since it never claims to have achieved it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/science-never-gives-up-searching-for-truth-since-it-never-claims-to/) [John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/) > [The applause is a celebration not only of the actors but also of the audience. It constitutes a shared moment of delight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/the-applause-is-a-celebration-not-only-of-the-actors-but-also-of-the/) [John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/) > [Nothing is more irredeemably irrelevant than bad science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/nothing-is-more-irredeemably-irrelevant-than-bad-science/) [John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/) > [If we treasure our own experience and regard it as real, we must also treasure other people's experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/if-we-treasure-our-own-experience-and-regard-it-as-real-we-must-also/) [John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/) > [What makes the Universal Declaration an epochal document is first of all its global impetus and secondly the breadth of its claims, a commitment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/what-makes-the-universal-declaration-an-epochal-document-is-first-of/) [John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/) > [Instead, in the absence of respect for human rights, science and its offspring technology have been used in this century as brutal instruments for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/instead-in-the-absence-of-respect-for-human-rights-science-and-its/) [John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/) [Explore all 46 John Charles Polanyi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/) ## More Assert quotes > [Sometimes people who adamantly assert an opinion or view don't even hold it themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-lieberman/sometimes-people-who-adamantly-assert-an-opinion-or-view-don-t-even/) [David J. Lieberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-lieberman/) > [I would assert that highly effective leaders are made more than they're born. Every leader I know who's been highly effective has worked hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-conant/i-would-assert-that-highly-effective-leaders-are-made-more-than-they/) [Douglas Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-conant/) > [It's dangerous to assert oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-moreau/it-s-dangerous-to-assert-oneself/) [Jeanne Moreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-moreau/) > [And also I assert our interest in respecting all our obligations and implementing all our commitments. And will save no effort whatever to protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-abbas/and-also-i-assert-our-interest-in-respecting-all-our-obligations-and/) [Mahmoud Abbas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-abbas/) > [I'm always made a little uncomfortable by studies that assert that Millennials are the most narcissistic generation in history. To me, being young has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-marantz-henig/i-m-always-made-a-little-uncomfortable-by-studies-that-assert-that/) [Robin Marantz Henig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-marantz-henig/) > [All over the world, young males and females, schooled in the art of patriarchal thinking, are building an identity on a foundation that sees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/all-over-the-world-young-males-and-females-schooled-in-the-art-of/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Indeed, the whole point of the man bun, I have surmised, is to assert a high proficiency at yoga. There are no yoga-achievement badges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-smith/indeed-the-whole-point-of-the-man-bun-i-have-surmised-is-to-assert-a/) [Russell Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-smith/) > [To assert that it is possible to establish peace between men of different nations is simply to assert that man, whatever his ethnical background,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-bourgeois/to-assert-that-it-is-possible-to-establish-peace-between-men-of/) [Leon Bourgeois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-bourgeois/) > [So the history of discovery, particularly cosmic discovery, but discovery in general, scientific discovery, is one where at any given moment, there's a frontier.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/so-the-history-of-discovery-particularly-cosmic-discovery-but/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [I do not mean that you could continue to do this with propriety or even with safety; I merely assert that the power is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-alan-sekulow/i-do-not-mean-that-you-could-continue-to-do-this-with-propriety-or/) [Jay Alan Sekulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-alan-sekulow/) > [You can't assert an answer just because it's not something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/you-can-t-assert-an-answer-just-because-it-s-not-something-else/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [If you want to assert a truth, first make sure it's not just an opinion that you desperately want to be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/if-you-want-to-assert-a-truth-first-make-sure-it-s-not-just-an/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Atheism is without God. It does not assert no God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradlaugh/atheism-is-without-god-it-does-not-assert-no-god/) [Charles Bradlaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradlaugh/) > [To know oneself, one should assert oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/to-know-oneself-one-should-assert-oneself/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [The most extremist power any political leader can assert is the power to target his own citizens for execution without any charges or due…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/the-most-extremist-power-any-political-leader-can-assert-is-the-power/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) [Browse all 47 Assert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assert/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The time has come to underscore the fact that our and others' rights are contingent on our willingness to assert and defend them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Charles Polanyi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/the-time-has-come-to-underscore-the-fact-that-our-and-others-rights/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Assert" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/the-time-has-come-to-underscore-the-fact-that-our-and-others-rights/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/john-charles-polanyi-14475_assert_the-time-has-come-to-underscore-the-fact_3155127.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/john-charles-polanyi-14475_assert_the-time-has-come-to-underscore-the-fact_3155127.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/john-charles-polanyi-14475_assert_the-time-has-come-to-underscore-the-fact_3155127.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The time has come to underscore the fact that our and others' rights are contingent on our willingness to…” — John Charles Polanyi", "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": "John Charles Polanyi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The time has come to underscore...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/the-time-has-come-to-underscore-the-fact-that-our-and-others-rights/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/the-time-has-come-to-underscore-the-fact-that-our-and-others-rights/#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 } } ] } ```