--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pro-lifers have long been castigated for…" description: "\"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 ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/nancy-pearcey-3368_abortion_pro-lifers-have-long-been-castigated-for_28212.jpg" --- # Pro-lifers have long been castigated for bringing private… ![“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 merely personal views and values.” quote by Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/nancy-pearcey-3368_abortion_pro-lifers-have-long-been-castigated-for_28212.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/nancy-pearcey-3368_abortion_pro-lifers-have-long-been-castigated-for_28212.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/nancy-pearcey-3368_abortion_pro-lifers-have-long-been-castigated-for_28212.jpg) > “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 merely personal views and values.” [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The argument claims that anti-abortion advocates are unfairly labeled for mixing personal morals with public policy, while pro-abortion supporters are portrayed as basing their stance solely on individual preferences. **In simple terms:** Challenges the double standard in moral debates. Key Takeaway Highlights perceived bias in how moral arguments are framed. Themes ethics politics public discourse bias morality Mood critical defensive analytical Type political philosophical controversial When to use this quote - policy debates - media commentary - legislative hearings - public protests Key Concepts abortion public square private values political rhetoric Practical Applications - advocacy framing - political messaging Questions to Reflect On - How does framing affect public perception of moral issues? - What criteria determine when a personal value becomes a public concern? A Different Perspective Some argue that both sides inevitably bring personal values into public policy, making the distinction less clear. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) [Abortion Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion-position-418492/) [Actually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually/) [Based](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/based/) [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Bringing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bringing/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Merely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merely/) [Personal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal/) [Personal views](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-views/) [Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position/) [Private](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private/) [Pro abortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pro-abortion/) [Pro Lifers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pro-lifers-418491/) [Public](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public/) [Square](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/square/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Values Public](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values-public-418493/) [Views](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/views/) ## Related quotes > [“A person who is conscientiously pro-choice must understand that he or she is a legal ally, willingly or unwillingly, with the pro-abortion position. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/a-person-who-is-conscientiously-pro-choice-must-understand-that-he-or/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [I am convinced that this approach, a mainstream Democratic approach, commands the strong support of the American people, and presents a sharp and compassionate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-casey/i-am-convinced-that-this-approach-a-mainstream-democratic-approach/) [Robert Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-casey/) > [I am fairly certain that my abortion position hurt me, because in a Democratic primary, where turnout is relatively low, liberal voters turn out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-casey/i-am-fairly-certain-that-my-abortion-position-hurt-me-because-in-a/) [Robert Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-casey/) > [How pro-lifers are perceived by those who oppose us is important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/how-pro-lifers-are-perceived-by-those-who-oppose-us-is-important/) [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) > [While pro-lifers and social conservatives form one of the most important blocks of support for the Republican Party, they are traditionally taken for granted.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-hemingway/while-pro-lifers-and-social-conservatives-form-one-of-the-most/) [Mollie Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-hemingway/) > [“The pro-death view should be of interest even to those who do not accept it. One of its valuable features is that it offers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-benatar/the-pro-death-view-should-be-of-interest-even-to-those-who-do-not/) [David Benatar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-benatar/) > [My favorite story about O'Connor - one of them - is I was in Toronto at a pro-life conference.I had a session before he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-hentoff/my-favorite-story-about-o-connor-one-of-them-is-i-was-in-toronto-at-a/) [Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) > [“The pro-life cause originated at a far earlier date than historians have previously thought, and its origins were not tied to a backlash against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-williams/the-pro-life-cause-originated-at-a-far-earlier-date-than-historians/) [Daniel K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-k-williams/) > [“Cruising along once again in this cesspool known as life, I realize that it is too late to make a detour. I will have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/cruising-along-once-again-in-this-cesspool-known-as-life-i-realize/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I've heard pro-lifers yell at abortion clinic workers that they should 'Repent!' Repent of what? They don't see what they are doing as something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/i-ve-heard-pro-lifers-yell-at-abortion-clinic-workers-that-they/) [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) > [The public takes little notice of those who want to abolish abortion. They are dismissed as extremists. If I were to argue that all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-dorries/the-public-takes-little-notice-of-those-who-want-to-abolish-abortion/) [Nadine Dorries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-dorries/) > [On a grander scale, when a society segregates itself, the consequences affect the economy, the emotions, and the ecology. That's one reason why it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-salatin/on-a-grander-scale-when-a-society-segregates-itself-the-consequences/) [Joel Salatin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-salatin/) > [It has long been my personal view that the separation of practical and theoretical work is artificial and injurious. Much of the practical work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-strachey/it-has-long-been-my-personal-view-that-the-separation-of-practical/) [Christopher Strachey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-strachey/) > [“Truth flows from universal law, not personal views.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-agno/truth-flows-from-universal-law-not-personal-views/) [John Agno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-agno/) > [In my personal view, a failure to discover unimagined objects and answer unasked questions, once HST functions properly, would indicate a lack of imagination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-n-bahcall/in-my-personal-view-a-failure-to-discover-unimagined-objects-and/) [John N. Bahcall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-n-bahcall/) ## More by Nancy Pearcey > [“Redemption is not just about being saved \*from\* the consequences of sin, it is also about being saved \*to\* something- to resume the task…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/redemption-is-not-just-about-being-saved-from-the-consequences-of-sin/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [“Author conveys contemporary respect for Methodist preachers who rode the circuit of frontier settlements to put themselves at risk for the Gospel near the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/author-conveys-contemporary-respect-for-methodist-preachers-who-rode/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [Literary theory has become a parody of science, generating its own arcane jargon. In the process, tragically, it discourages love of literature for its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/literary-theory-has-become-a-parody-of-science-generating-its-own/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [“Many of us don't even know what it means to have a Christian perspective on our work. Oh, we know that being a Christian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/many-of-us-don-t-even-know-what-it-means-to-have-a-christian/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [“People are not relativistic when it comes to matters of science, engineering, and technology; rather, they are relativistic and pluralistic in matters of religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/people-are-not-relativistic-when-it-comes-to-matters-of-science/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [Knowing the truth has meaning only as a first step to living the truth day by day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/knowing-the-truth-has-meaning-only-as-a-first-step-to-living-the/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [The most consistent versions of materialism deny the reality of anything beyond matter - no soul, no spirit, no will, no mind. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/the-most-consistent-versions-of-materialism-deny-the-reality-of/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [During the first 13 centuries after the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, no one thought of setting up a creche to celebrate Christmas. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/during-the-first-13-centuries-after-the-birth-of-jesus-in-bethlehem/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [In many cases students are never exposed to competing ideas within their families, churches, or Christian schools, and as a result they go out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/in-many-cases-students-are-never-exposed-to-competing-ideas-within/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [“The sword of the Spirit has been muffled up and decked out with flowers and ribbons," author writes, conveying the sentiments of a Congregationist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/the-sword-of-the-spirit-has-been-muffled-up-and-decked-out-with/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [“No matter how hard people work to suppress their knowledge of God, creation itself keeps challenging them. “Human life is a continual wrestling match…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/no-matter-how-hard-people-work-to-suppress-their-knowledge-of-god/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [The loss of objectivity in moral thought does not lead to liberation. It leads to oppression. Secular ideologies preach liberty, but they practice tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/the-loss-of-objectivity-in-moral-thought-does-not-lead-to-liberation/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [“Christianity explains why truth is not merely a human construction. The world is not a creation of my own mind. It is the handiwork…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/christianity-explains-why-truth-is-not-merely-a-human-construction/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [Because a human is a someone and not a something, the source of human life must also be a Someone - not the blind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/because-a-human-is-a-someone-and-not-a-something-the-source-of-human/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [Christian adults need to think about talking to our own children as a form of cross-cultural missions. Cultural change happens so quickly that teens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/christian-adults-need-to-think-about-talking-to-our-own-children-as-a/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) [Explore all 132 Nancy Pearcey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) ## 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/) > [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/) > [We also need to make sure women can be in charge of their reproductive health. We can't defund places like Planned Parenthood, where women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissy-teigen/we-also-need-to-make-sure-women-can-be-in-charge-of-their/) [Chrissy Teigen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissy-teigen/) [Browse all 1,629 Abortion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Pro-lifers have long been castigated for bringing private values into the public square. 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