--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Human rights are not a privilege…" description: "\"Human rights are not a privilege conferred by government. They are every human being's entitlement by virtue of his humanity.\" — Mother Teresa" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/777/mother-teresa-196_abortion_human-rights-are-not-a-privilege-conferr_2793076.jpg" --- # Human rights are not a privilege conferred by government… ![“Human rights are not a privilege conferred by government. They are every human being's entitlement by virtue of his humanity.” quote by Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/777/mother-teresa-196_abortion_human-rights-are-not-a-privilege-conferr_2793076.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/777/mother-teresa-196_abortion_human-rights-are-not-a-privilege-conferr_2793076.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/777/mother-teresa-196_abortion_human-rights-are-not-a-privilege-conferr_2793076.jpg) > “Human rights are not a privilege conferred by government. They are every human being's entitlement by virtue of his humanity.” [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human rights are inherent to all people, not granted by governments. **In simple terms:** Rights belong to every person by virtue of humanity. Key Takeaway Defend universal human rights. Themes human rights ethics social justice equality Mood compassionate determined Type activist ethical When to use this quote - policy reform - community support - education programs Key Concepts inherent dignity legal frameworks global advocacy Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure rights are respected everywhere? - What role do individuals play in protecting rights? A Different Perspective Implementation varies across cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) [Abortion rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion-rights/) [Anti abortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-abortion/) [Catholic pro life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic-pro-life/) [Entitlement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entitlement/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Human rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-rights/) [Human rights day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-rights-day/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) [Pro life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pro-life/) [Right to life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-to-life/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [Human rights are not a privilege conferred by government. They are every human being's entitlement by virtue of his humanity. The right to life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/human-rights-are-not-a-privilege-conferred-by-government-they-are/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [The right to life does not depend, and must not be declared to be contingent, on the pleasure of anyone else, not even a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/the-right-to-life-does-not-depend-and-must-not-be-declared-to-be/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [America needs no words from me to see how your decision in Roe v. Wade has deformed a great nation. The so-called right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/america-needs-no-words-from-me-to-see-how-your-decision-in-roe-v-wade/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [The so-called right to abortion has pitted mothers against their children and women against men. It has sown violence and discord at the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/the-so-called-right-to-abortion-has-pitted-mothers-against-their/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [The greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion, which is war against the child. The mother doesn't learn to love, but kills to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/the-greatest-destroyer-of-love-and-peace-is-abortion-which-is-war/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [But I feel that the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child, a direct killing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/but-i-feel-that-the-greatest-destroyer-of-peace-today-is-abortion/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [And if we can accept that a mother can kill her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/and-if-we-can-accept-that-a-mother-can-kill-her-own-child-how-can-we/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [We must not be surprised when we hear of murders, killings, of wars, or of hatred...If a mother can kill her own child, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/we-must-not-be-surprised-when-we-hear-of-murders-killings-of-wars-or/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Same sex marriage isn't gay privilege, it's equal rights. Privilege would be something like gay people not paying taxes. Like churches don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/same-sex-marriage-isn-t-gay-privilege-it-s-equal-rights-privilege/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [Human rights are not a privilege granted by the few, they are a liberty entitled to all, and human rights, by definition, include the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-granger/human-rights-are-not-a-privilege-granted-by-the-few-they-are-a/) [Kay Granger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-granger/) > [“Success is more than just power or not violating the rights of others; it is the privilege of contributing to the betterment of others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/success-is-more-than-just-power-or-not-violating-the-rights-of-others/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [“All government, indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue and every prudent act, is founded on compromise and barter. We balance inconveniences; we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/all-government-indeed-every-human-benefit-and-enjoyment-every-virtue-2/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [You can't run a government solely on a business basis...Government should be human. It should have a heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-h-lehman/you-can-t-run-a-government-solely-on-a-business-basis-government/) Herbert H. Lehman > [The predominant yardstick of your government is not human rights but national interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/breyten-breytenbach/the-predominant-yardstick-of-your-government-is-not-human-rights-but/) [Breyten Breytenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/breyten-breytenbach/) > [Government is not a human institution. It is a divine institution that humans are to run on His behalf. When they create their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/government-is-not-a-human-institution-it-is-a-divine-institution-that/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) ## More by Mother Teresa > [Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within the reach of every hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/love-is-a-fruit-in-season-at-all-times-and-within-the-reach-of-every/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [All works of love are works of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/all-works-of-love-are-works-of-peace/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Keep the corners of your mouth turned up. Speak in a low, persuasive tone. Listen; be teachable. Laugh at good stories and learn to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/keep-the-corners-of-your-mouth-turned-up-speak-in-a-low-persuasive/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Holy living consists in doing God's work with a smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/holy-living-consists-in-doing-god-s-work-with-a-smile/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [I don't look at anything. Every person whether he is Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist, he is my brother, my sister. I think we all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/i-don-t-look-at-anything-every-person-whether-he-is-hindu-muslim-or/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [We may not be able to give much but we can always give the joy that springs in a heart that is in LOVE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/we-may-not-be-able-to-give-much-but-we-can-always-give-the-joy-that/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Maybe if I didn't pick up that one person, I wouldn't have picked up forty-two thousand...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/maybe-if-i-didn-t-pick-up-that-one-person-i-wouldn-t-have-picked-up/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [We too are called to withdraw at certain intervals into deeper silence and aloneness with God, together as a community as well as personally;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/we-too-are-called-to-withdraw-at-certain-intervals-into-deeper/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [People are unrealistic, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/people-are-unrealistic-illogical-and-self-centered-love-them-anyway/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Recovering in a Calcutta, India hospital. I think I'm more difficult than critical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/recovering-in-a-calcutta-india-hospital-i-think-i-m-more-difficult/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [So many signatures for such a small heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/so-many-signatures-for-such-a-small-heart/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [They should give until it hurts, maybe a very small thing, maybe just a packet of cigarettes, but instead of by smoking that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/they-should-give-until-it-hurts-maybe-a-very-small-thing-maybe-just-a/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/it-is-by-forgiving-that-one-is-forgiven/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [The more we empty ourselves, the more room we give God to fill us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/the-more-we-empty-ourselves-the-more-room-we-give-god-to-fill-us/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Joy is prayer; joy is strength: joy is love; joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/joy-is-prayer-joy-is-strength-joy-is-love-joy-is-a-net-of-love-by/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) [Explore all 951 Mother Teresa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) ## More Abortion quotes > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974 > [Hey everyone, in case y'all didn't hear, I'm pregnat, and after discussing it w/ my family, I've decided to get an abortion, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-badesheim/hey-everyone-in-case-y-all-didn-t-hear-i-m-pregnat-and-after/) Madison Badesheim > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [My favorite Founding Fathers, Christians like John Adams, were absolutely appalled by slavery, and did not own slaves. I think we're going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/my-favorite-founding-fathers-christians-like-john-adams-were/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [“David Bereit, Founder of Forty Days for Life, points out that any abortion clinic in America should have a sign in its window that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-price/david-bereit-founder-of-forty-days-for-life-points-out-that-any/) [John Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-price/) > [The Chinese describe themselves as political refugees. Many base that claim on China's strict population laws, which allow them to have only one child.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/the-chinese-describe-themselves-as-political-refugees-many-base-that/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [I'm a pro-life candidate because I believe that science is proving us right every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-m-a-pro-life-candidate-because-i-believe-that-science-is-proving-us/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [I've noticed that everyone who is for abortion…has been born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-noticed-that-everyone-who-is-for-abortion-has-been-born/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [We talk a lot about how abortion is a medical procedure, but actually if you look at what the other side is doing, they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-northup/we-talk-a-lot-about-how-abortion-is-a-medical-procedure-but-actually/) [Nancy Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-northup/) > [“The Vatican won't prosecute pedophile priests but I decide I'm not ready for motherhood and it's condemnation for me? These are the same people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-renee-taylor/the-vatican-won-t-prosecute-pedophile-priests-but-i-decide-i-m-not/) Sonya Renee Taylor > [Pro-lifers have long been castigated for bringing private values into the public square. But actually it is the pro-abortion position that is based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/pro-lifers-have-long-been-castigated-for-bringing-private-values-into/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [I am 100 percent pro-life and have been my whole life. That means I am opposed to abortion at any stage of pregnancy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hawley/i-am-100-percent-pro-life-and-have-been-my-whole-life-that-means-i-am/) [Josh Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hawley/) > [Any woman should have the right to a safe and legal abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-ford/any-woman-should-have-the-right-to-a-safe-and-legal-abortion/) [Betty Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-ford/) > [“For Republicans, life begins at conception but ends at birth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-adam-snyder/for-republicans-life-begins-at-conception-but-ends-at-birth/) [J.Adam Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-adam-snyder/) > [I think fundamentally, the real power behind the anti-choice movement in regard to abortion and the opposition to the rights of LGBT Americans is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-w-lynn/i-think-fundamentally-the-real-power-behind-the-anti-choice-movement/) [Barry W. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-w-lynn/) [Browse all 1,629 Abortion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Human rights are not a privilege conferred by government. 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