--- 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. The right to life does no..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f12/mother-teresa-196_abortion_human-rights-are-not-a-privilege-conferr_354045.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. The right to life does not depend, and must not be contingent, on the pleasure of anyone else, not even a parent or sovereign. ... You must weep that your own government…” quote by Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f12/mother-teresa-196_abortion_human-rights-are-not-a-privilege-conferr_354045.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f12/mother-teresa-196_abortion_human-rights-are-not-a-privilege-conferr_354045.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f12/mother-teresa-196_abortion_human-rights-are-not-a-privilege-conferr_354045.jpg) > “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 does not depend, and must not be contingent, on the pleasure of anyone else, not even a parent or sovereign. ... You must weep that your own government, at present, seems blind to this truth.” [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 stem from inherent human dignity, not from governmental grant; they must be universal and unconditional. **In simple terms:** Rights belong to all humans, not given by governments. Key Takeaway Advocate for universal, unconditional rights. Themes human rights dignity government universalism Mood determined urgent Type ethical political When to use this quote - activism - policy advocacy - education - legal reform Key Concepts Ethics natural law social contract Questions to Reflect On - How can societies enforce rights when governments resist? - What mechanisms ensure rights remain unconditional? A Different Perspective Rights can be ignored by authorities, limiting protection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) [Blind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind/) [Depends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depends/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Entitlement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entitlement/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-human-1130775/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Human Entitlement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-entitlement-3265003/) [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/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) [Right to life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-to-life/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Rights Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights-privilege-1035095/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Sovereign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sovereign/) [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.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/human-rights-are-not-a-privilege-conferred-by-government-they-are-2/) [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [This strongly asserted but ill-defined license to kill without accountability is not an entitlement which the United States or other states can have without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-alston/this-strongly-asserted-but-ill-defined-license-to-kill-without/) [Philip Alston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-alston/) > [What kind of government is this? This is a human being. This is not right, and I'm telling everybody you better call your congressman,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-schiavo/what-kind-of-government-is-this-this-is-a-human-being-this-is-not/) [Michael Schiavo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-schiavo/) > [“The government of human beings, he argued, is a matter not of applying cold rules and principles, but of tending to warm sentiments and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-levin/the-government-of-human-beings-he-argued-is-a-matter-not-of-applying/) [Yuval Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-levin/) > [“A phenomenon noticeable throughout history regardless of place or period is the pursuit by governments of policies contrary to their own interests. Mankind, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-w-tuchman/a-phenomenon-noticeable-throughout-history-regardless-of-place-or-2/) [Barbara W. Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-w-tuchman/) > [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/) > [“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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-h-lehman/) > [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/) > [“Government is the human attempt to mandate goodness and ensure fairness. Yet there is only one place where goodness is born, and that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/government-is-the-human-attempt-to-mandate-goodness-and-ensure/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [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/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. They are every human being's entitlement by virtue of his humanity. The right to life does not depend, and must not be contingent, on the pleasure of anyone else, not even a parent or sovereign. ... 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