--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Vegetarianism is a link to perfection and…" description: "\"Vegetarianism is a link to perfection and peace. But it's a small link. There are lots of other issues: apartheid , vivisection, political prisoners, t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0b/river-phoenix-11883_apartheid_vegetarianism-is-a-link-to-perfection-an_357734.jpg" --- # Vegetarianism is a link to perfection and peace. But it's… ![“Vegetarianism is a link to perfection and peace. But it's a small link. There are lots of other issues: apartheid , vivisection, political prisoners, the arms race. There's so much going on in this world today, so much ignorance among people. That's not to say I'm not standing amongst everybody…” quote by River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0b/river-phoenix-11883_apartheid_vegetarianism-is-a-link-to-perfection-an_357734.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0b/river-phoenix-11883_apartheid_vegetarianism-is-a-link-to-perfection-an_357734.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0b/river-phoenix-11883_apartheid_vegetarianism-is-a-link-to-perfection-an_357734.jpg) > “Vegetarianism is a link to perfection and peace. But it's a small link. There are lots of other issues: apartheid , vivisection, political prisoners, the arms race. There's so much going on in this world today, so much ignorance among people. That's not to say I'm not standing amongst everybody. But the point is, what can we do now? That's the thing about vegetarianism; it's an individual's decision and it's something you have control over. How many things do we really have control over?” [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocating vegetarianism highlights personal agency but broader systemic issues demand collective action. **In simple terms:** Personal diet choices matter, yet many larger problems exist. Key Takeaway Balance personal choices with broader activism. Themes ethics environment personal responsibility activism systemic change Mood reflective concerned Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - dietary choices - political activism - education campaigns - community organizing Key Concepts vegetarianism moral philosophy social justice Questions to Reflect On - What systemic changes can amplify personal ethical choices? - How can we prioritize issues without feeling overwhelmed? A Different Perspective Individual actions alone cannot solve complex global issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apartheid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apartheid/) [Arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) [Arms race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms-race/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Links](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/links/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political prisoners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-prisoners/) [Prisoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prisoner/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing/) [Thing Vegetarianism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-vegetarianism-3291407/) [This world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/this-world/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Vegetarianism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vegetarianism/) [Vegetarianism Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vegetarianism-individual-3291408/) [Vegetarianism Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vegetarianism-link-347022/) [Vivisection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vivisection/) [Vivisection Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vivisection-political-3291409/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-today/) ## Related quotes > [Vegetarianism is a link to perfection and peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/vegetarianism-is-a-link-to-perfection-and-peace/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [There is, however, another subject on which the Queen feels most strongly, and that is this horrible, brutalizing, un-Christian-like vivisection…It must really not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-victoria/there-is-however-another-subject-on-which-the-queen-feels-most/) [Queen Victoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-victoria/) > [“I abhor vivisection. It should at least be curbed. Better, it should be abolished. I know of no achievement through vivisection, no scientific discovery,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mayo/i-abhor-vivisection-it-should-at-least-be-curbed-better-it-should-be/) [Charles Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mayo/) > [“But those who are incapable of pitying animals are, as a matter of fact, incapable of pitying men. A physician who would cut a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ingersoll/but-those-who-are-incapable-of-pitying-animals-are-as-a-matter-of/) [Robert Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ingersoll/) > [There will come a time when the world will look back to modern vivisection in the name of science, as they do now to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-bigelow/there-will-come-a-time-when-the-world-will-look-back-to-modern/) [Kathryn Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-bigelow/) > [Thinking is the subtlest form of self-polemics, the art of a certain finesse in psychological self-vivisection and self-crucifixion (Hegel of course called the path…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/thinking-is-the-subtlest-form-of-self-polemics-the-art-of-a-certain/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [...many vivisectors still claim that what they do helps save human lives. They are Iying. The truth is that animal experiments kill people, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-coleman/many-vivisectors-still-claim-that-what-they-do-helps-save-human-lives/) [Vernon Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-coleman/) > [What I think about vivisection is that if people admit that they have the right to take or endanger the life of living beings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-i-think-about-vivisection-is-that-if-people-admit-that-they-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forbid the day when vivisection shall be practised in every college and school, and when the man of science, looking forth over a world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/forbid-the-day-when-vivisection-shall-be-practised-in-every-college/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [Throughout the late '80s, me and a handful of friends just like you people here, we started to break windows, we started to slash…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-coronado/throughout-the-late-80s-me-and-a-handful-of-friends-just-like-you/) [Rod Coronado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-coronado/) > [Because Christian morality leaves animals out of account, they are at once outlawed in philosophical morals; they are mere 'things,' mere means to any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/because-christian-morality-leaves-animals-out-of-account-they-are-at/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [I had bought two male chimps from a primate colony in Holland. They lived next to each other in separate cages for several months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiaan-barnard/i-had-bought-two-male-chimps-from-a-primate-colony-in-holland-they/) [Christiaan Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiaan-barnard/) > [Gradually I became aware that professing English because I loved poems was like practicing vivisection because I loved dogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-donaghy/gradually-i-became-aware-that-professing-english-because-i-loved/) [Michael Donaghy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-donaghy/) > [I am not interested to know whether vivisection produces results that are profitable to the human race or doesn't...The pain which it inflicts upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-am-not-interested-to-know-whether-vivisection-produces-results-that/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“it is a federal system of sadistic torture, vivisection, and animal genocide, which has been carried on for decades under the fraudulent guise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tobias/it-is-a-federal-system-of-sadistic-torture-vivisection-and-animal/) [Michael Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tobias/) ## More by River Phoenix > [I've always felt somewhat out of place with other kids my own age", said River. "I was constantly reminded by people's reaction to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-ve-always-felt-somewhat-out-of-place-with-other-kids-my-own-age/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [Although I can't stop all cruelty to living creatures on the planet, I can be kinder to every living creature in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/although-i-can-t-stop-all-cruelty-to-living-creatures-on-the-planet-i/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [It's a great feeling to think that I can be a friend to so many people through my movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/it-s-a-great-feeling-to-think-that-i-can-be-a-friend-to-so-many/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [I really like acting because you can create a character. You can make someone who has never existed before. That's neat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-really-like-acting-because-you-can-create-a-character-you-can-make/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [I wouldn't eat a hamburger for 40,000 dollars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-wouldn-t-eat-a-hamburger-for-40-000-dollars/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [Sometimes I wish I wasn't as conscious as I am. It would be so much easier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/sometimes-i-wish-i-wasn-t-as-conscious-as-i-am-it-would-be-so-much/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [I'm a minor, stupid talent compared to my brother (Joaquin).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-m-a-minor-stupid-talent-compared-to-my-brother-joaquin/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [I don't want to get into the habit of thinking about my career because when it comes down to it, it's not that important.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-don-t-want-to-get-into-the-habit-of-thinking-about-my-career/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [I feel that there are great minds up there who would like to see what I can do with an Oscar nomination. I guess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-feel-that-there-are-great-minds-up-there-who-would-like-to-see-what/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [Rich kids gave us their old clothes. They were the best clothes we ever had. We were these very pure, naive, poor children. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/rich-kids-gave-us-their-old-clothes-they-were-the-best-clothes-we/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [We were constantly moving to different countries and adjusting to new things. It was such a free feeling. I'm glad I didn't have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/we-were-constantly-moving-to-different-countries-and-adjusting-to-new/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [I'd like to play every type of character, but only once. I like to expierence things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-d-like-to-play-every-type-of-character-but-only-once-i-like-to/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [I sometimes lie, especially about personal things, because what does it matter? I am a kind of minute commodity. My name is no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-sometimes-lie-especially-about-personal-things-because-what-does-it/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [I did my best work in The Mosquito Coast. I know it wasn't such a big hit, but for me it was more meaningful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-did-my-best-work-in-the-mosquito-coast-i-know-it-wasn-t-such-a-big/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [Acting is like a Halloween mask that you put on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/acting-is-like-a-halloween-mask-that-you-put-on/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) [Explore all 57 River Phoenix quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) ## More Apartheid quotes > [My life had been defined by the apartheid years. Now we were going into an era of democracy... and I believed that I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/my-life-had-been-defined-by-the-apartheid-years-now-we-were-going/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [If apartheid is removed, then the violence that is necessary to maintain it will be removed along with the pressures from apartheid which create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-tambo/if-apartheid-is-removed-then-the-violence-that-is-necessary-to/) [Oliver Tambo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-tambo/) > [I try not to get too political. But coming from South Africa, where apartheid was a huge problem, and there was lots of inequality,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-anderson/i-try-not-to-get-too-political-but-coming-from-south-africa-where/) [Kevin Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-anderson/) > [I grew up under Thatcher; the era of apartheid; the era of the poll tax; the era of riots. I remember Neil Kinnock was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lammy/i-grew-up-under-thatcher-the-era-of-apartheid-the-era-of-the-poll-tax/) [David Lammy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lammy/) > [When I talk about the end of apartheid, I prefer not to claim the honor that I have ended it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-w-de-klerk/when-i-talk-about-the-end-of-apartheid-i-prefer-not-to-claim-the/) [F. W. de Klerk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-w-de-klerk/) > [ We \[ with Brian Mulroney and Rajiv Gandhi\] went to the meeting in Canada \[the 1987 Vancouver CHOGM\] and I said to them there… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hawke/we-with-brian-mulroney-and-rajiv-gandhi-went-to-the-meeting-in-canada/) [Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hawke/) > [My time in prison only deepened my resolve against apartheid. Even while I was in prison, I fought against it, teaching my cellmates about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/my-time-in-prison-only-deepened-my-resolve-against-apartheid-even/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [But I think I'm on track to do something even bigger. I liberate minds with my music. That's more important than liberating a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/but-i-think-i-m-on-track-to-do-something-even-bigger-i-liberate-minds/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [The mistake the apartheid government made was they gave the black people nothing, so they had nothing to lose. But now a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilbur-smith/the-mistake-the-apartheid-government-made-was-they-gave-the-black/) [Wilbur Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilbur-smith/) > [HEAVEN: The big apartheid in the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-appleman/heaven-the-big-apartheid-in-the-sky/) [Philip Appleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-appleman/) > [I have no doubt that in the future, the laws that criminalize human love and commitment will look the way the apartheid laws do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/i-have-no-doubt-that-in-the-future-the-laws-that-criminalize-human/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [My life had been defined by the apartheid years. Now we were going into an era of democracy... and I believed that I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/my-life-had-been-defined-by-the-apartheid-years-now-we-were-going-2/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [The violence associated with the A.N.C. is minimal, infinitesimal next to the violence of the apartheid regime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-tambo/the-violence-associated-with-the-a-n-c-is-minimal-infinitesimal-next/) [Oliver Tambo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-tambo/) > [Imagine if your kids had to carry a ladder to climb an apartheid wall to get to school everyday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-suleiman/imagine-if-your-kids-had-to-carry-a-ladder-to-climb-an-apartheid-wall/) [Omar Suleiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-suleiman/) > [The private schools and the independent schools like Oprah's are really doing well because they've got the best of everything but it certainly puts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlayne-hunter-gault/the-private-schools-and-the-independent-schools-like-oprah-s-are/) [Charlayne Hunter-Gault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlayne-hunter-gault/) [Browse all 299 Apartheid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apartheid/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Vegetarianism is a link to perfection and peace. But it's a small link. There are lots of other issues: apartheid , vivisection, political prisoners, the arms race. There's so much going on in this world today, so much ignorance among people. That's not to say I'm not standing amongst everybody. But the point is, what can we do now? That's the thing about vegetarianism; it's an individual's decision and it's something you have control over. 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