Calves Quote by Marge Piercy
“I will choose what enters me, what becomes flesh of my flesh. Without choice, no politics, no ethics lives. I am not your cornfield, not your uranium mine, not your calf for fattening, not your cow for milking. You may not use me as your factory. Priests and legislators do not hold shares in my womb or my mind. If I give it to you, I want it back. My life is a non-negotiable demand.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Body Politic” by Marge Piercy, 1978
The quote asserts bodily autonomy, rejecting any external control over one's body or mind, and demands respect for personal agency.
In simple terms: Your body is yours; no one can own it.
Key Takeaway
Demand full control over your own body.
Themes
autonomy
rights
politics
ethics
Mood
defiant
assertive
Type
ethical
political
When to use this quote
- medical consent
- reproductive rights
- workplace safety
- personal boundaries
Key Concepts
bodily sovereignty
personal agency
non‑negotiable demand
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you ever feel your autonomy is compromised?
- How can societies protect bodily sovereignty?
A Different Perspective
Limits arise when societal structures enforce control despite individual resistance.
