--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The right to life is the first human…" description: "\"The right to life is the first human right. Abortion is killing someone that cannot defend himself.\" — Pope Francis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a7/pope-francis-85_abortion_the-right-to-life-is-the-first-human-rig_2018621.png" --- # The right to life is the first human right. Abortion is… ![“The right to life is the first human right. Abortion is killing someone that cannot defend himself.” quote by Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a7/pope-francis-85_abortion_the-right-to-life-is-the-first-human-rig_2018621.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a7/pope-francis-85_abortion_the-right-to-life-is-the-first-human-rig_2018621.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a7/pope-francis-85_abortion_the-right-to-life-is-the-first-human-rig_2018621.png) > “The right to life is the first human right. Abortion is killing someone that cannot defend himself.” [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote asserts that life is the fundamental right and that abortion ends a defenseless life. **In simple terms:** Life is the primary right; abortion ends a defenseless life. Key Takeaway Protect life from its start. Themes human rights ethics prolife morality law Mood serious reflective Type ethical political When to use this quote - medical decisions - legislative policy - personal belief - healthcare practice Key Concepts Sanctity of life bodily autonomy ethical debate Questions to Reflect On - How do we balance fetal rights with women's autonomy? - What defines a "defenseless" being? A Different Perspective The definition of when life begins is contested and varies across cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) [Abortion Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion-killing-489355/) [Catholic pro life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic-pro-life/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Human Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-right/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Inspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring/) [Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing/) [Killing someone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing-someone-101178/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-human-424031/) [Life is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is/) [Pro life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pro-life/) [Right Abortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-abortion-436801/) [Right to life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-to-life/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) ## Related quotes > [The right to life is the first human right. Abortion is killing someone that cannot defend him or herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-right-to-life-is-the-first-human-right-abortion-is-killing/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [The right to life is the first among human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-right-to-life-is-the-first-among-human-rights/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [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/) > [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/) > [" Science is beginning to encroach on every level of our volition". And to me, that is a frightening social concept. It doesn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/science-is-beginning-to-encroach-on-every-level-of-our-volition-and/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [If the Declaration of Independence states our creed, there can be no right to abortion, since it means denying the most fundamental right of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/if-the-declaration-of-independence-states-our-creed-there-can-be-no/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [I suppose you all grant that woman is a human being. If she has a right to life she has a right to earn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-suppose-you-all-grant-that-woman-is-a-human-being-if-she-has-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Thats what abortion is - killing innocent humans for money. Abortionists are government licensed hit men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/thats-what-abortion-is-killing-innocent-humans-for-money-abortionists/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [I think we have deluded ourselves into believing that people don't know that abortion is killing. So any pretense that abortion is not killing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faye-wattleton/i-think-we-have-deluded-ourselves-into-believing-that-people-don-t/) [Faye Wattleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faye-wattleton/) > [Defend the unborn against abortion even if they persecute you, calumniate you, set traps for you, take you to court or kill you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/defend-the-unborn-against-abortion-even-if-they-persecute-you/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Human life must always be defended from its beginning in the womb and must be recognised as a gift of God that guarantees the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/human-life-must-always-be-defended-from-its-beginning-in-the-womb-and/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## More by Pope Francis > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [God’s faithfulness is stronger than our unfaithfulness and our infidelities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-s-faithfulness-is-stronger-than-our-unfaithfulness-and-our/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“Most people nowadays would not consider love as related in any way to truth. 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Please join me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-pray-every-day-for-all-who-are-suffering-in-iraq-please-join-me/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I entrust this Twenty-second World Day of the Sick to the intercession of Mary. I ask her to help the sick to bear their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-entrust-this-twenty-second-world-day-of-the-sick-to-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Certain realities in life are only seen through eyes that are cleansed through our tears. Let us learn how to weep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/certain-realities-in-life-are-only-seen-through-eyes-that-are/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) [Explore all 1,479 Pope Francis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## 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. 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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? 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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": "The right to life is the first human right. 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