--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The real question today is not when human…" description: "\"The real question today is not when human life begins, but, what is the value of human life? The abortionist who reassembles the arms and legs of a tin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/ronald-reagan-119_abortion_the-real-question-today-is-not-when-huma_2435771.jpg" --- # The real question today is not when human life begins… ![“The real question today is not when human life begins, but, what is the value of human life? The abortionist who reassembles the arms and legs of a tiny baby to make sure all its parts have been torn from its mother's body can hardly doubt whether it is a human being. The real question for him and…” quote by Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/ronald-reagan-119_abortion_the-real-question-today-is-not-when-huma_2435771.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/ronald-reagan-119_abortion_the-real-question-today-is-not-when-huma_2435771.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/ronald-reagan-119_abortion_the-real-question-today-is-not-when-huma_2435771.jpg) > “The real question today is not when human life begins, but, what is the value of human life? The abortionist who reassembles the arms and legs of a tiny baby to make sure all its parts have been torn from its mother's body can hardly doubt whether it is a human being. The real question for him and for all of us is whether that tiny human life has a God-given right to be protected by the law - the same right we have.” [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The core issue is the inherent right to life for every human, regardless of stage of development. **In simple terms:** All humans have a right to life. Key Takeaway Defend life rights. Themes human rights life ethics law Mood serious determined Type political ethical When to use this quote - abortion debates - medical ethics - legislation - public policy Key Concepts political philosophy bioethics Questions to Reflect On - What defines personhood? - How should law reflect moral values? A Different Perspective Societal consensus on when life begins varies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) [Abortionist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortionist-337864/) [Arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) [Arms and legs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms-and-legs/) [Baby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baby/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-inspirational/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Doubt Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt-human-337866/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Human life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-life/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Legs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legs/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Abortionist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-abortionist-337863/) [Life Begins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-begins/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Pro life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pro-life/) [Protected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protected/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-questions/) [Tiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tiny/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Torn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torn/) [Value Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value-human/) [Value of human life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value-of-human-life/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [We should not need to be reminded of the value of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/we-should-not-need-to-be-reminded-of-the-value-of-human-life/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [If one were truly aware of the value of human life, to waste it blithely on distractions and the pursuit of vulgar ambitions would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dilgo-khyentse-rinpoche/if-one-were-truly-aware-of-the-value-of-human-life-to-waste-it/) [Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dilgo-khyentse-rinpoche/) > [ \[My study of the universe\] leaves little doubt that life has occurred on other planets. I doubt if the human race is the most… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-urey/my-study-of-the-universe-leaves-little-doubt-that-life-has-occurred/) [Harold Urey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-urey/) > [Doubt is part of the human drama. But don't let it consume you-let it motivate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hardy/doubt-is-part-of-the-human-drama-but-don-t-let-it-consume-you-let-it/) [Darren Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hardy/) > [Life is merely terrible; I feel it as few others do. Often — and in my inmost self perhaps all the time — I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/life-is-merely-terrible-i-feel-it-as-few-others-do-often-and-in-my/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [We cannot diminish the value of one category of human life -- the unborn -- without diminishing the value of all human life .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-cannot-diminish-the-value-of-one-category-of-human-life-the-unborn/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The vilest abortionist is he who attempts to mould a child's character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-vilest-abortionist-is-he-who-attempts-to-mould-a-child-s-character/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [If I grew up in a different background, I could see myself getting a gun and shooting an abortionist. That's my job, to imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-solondz/if-i-grew-up-in-a-different-background-i-could-see-myself-getting-a/) [Todd Solondz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-solondz/) > [In America, abortionist believe that a fetus and an embryo are not a life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-diaz-sr/in-america-abortionist-believe-that-a-fetus-and-an-embryo-are-not-a/) [Ruben Diaz Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-diaz-sr/) > [The gross perversion and destruction of motherhood by the abortionist filled me with indignation, and awakened active antagonism. That the honorable term 'female physician'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-blackwell/the-gross-perversion-and-destruction-of-motherhood-by-the-abortionist/) [Elizabeth Blackwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-blackwell/) > [ He \[Hern\] calls his center the Boulder Abortion Clinic and he said specifically that he didn't want to hide that word. I'm deeply opposed… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-h-richardson/he-hern-calls-his-center-the-boulder-abortion-clinic-and-he-said/) [John H Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-h-richardson/) > [In obstetrics and gynecology, the term abortionist is still a dirty word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thompson/in-obstetrics-and-gynecology-the-term-abortionist-is-still-a-dirty/) [Joe Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-thompson/) > [The abortionist I worked for, he's a very greedy man, a selfish man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norma-mccorvey/the-abortionist-i-worked-for-he-s-a-very-greedy-man-a-selfish-man/) [Norma McCorvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norma-mccorvey/) > [“There are those who don't understand the nobility of horror fiction. 'Isn't there enough horror in the world?' they ask. For all other forms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-those-who-don-t-understand-the-nobility-of-horror-fiction/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Pope Francis I, denouncing “an economy of exclusion,” has made inequality a centerpiece of his reign: Just as the commandment “Thou shalt not kill”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cay-johnston/pope-francis-i-denouncing-an-economy-of-exclusion-has-made-inequality/) [David Cay Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cay-johnston/) ## More by Ronald Reagan > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [You know, by the time you reach my age, you've made plenty of mistakes if you've lived your life properly. So you learn. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-know-by-the-time-you-reach-my-age-you-ve-made-plenty-of-mistakes/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Yes, across Europe, this wall will fall. For it cannot withstand faith; it cannot withstand truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/yes-across-europe-this-wall-will-fall-for-it-cannot-withstand-faith/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Simple fairness dictates that government must not raise taxes on families struggling to pay their bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/simple-fairness-dictates-that-government-must-not-raise-taxes-on/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The time has come to turn to God and reassert our trust in Him for the healing of America - our country is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-time-has-come-to-turn-to-god-and-reassert-our-trust-in-him-for/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Professional politicians like to talk about the value of experience in government. Nuts! The only experience you gain in politics is how to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/professional-politicians-like-to-talk-about-the-value-of-experience/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The WPA was one of the most productive elements of FDR's alphabet soup of agencies because it put people to work building roads, bridges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-wpa-was-one-of-the-most-productive-elements-of-fdr-s-alphabet/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Where there's liberty, art succeeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/where-there-s-liberty-art-succeeds/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Since I came to the White House, I got two hearing aids, a colon operation, skin cancer, a prostate operation, and I was shot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/since-i-came-to-the-white-house-i-got-two-hearing-aids-a-colon/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [A moment I've been dreading. George brought his ne're-do-well son around this morning and asked me to find the kid a job. Not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/a-moment-i-ve-been-dreading-george-brought-his-ne-re-do-well-son/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [On Father's Day, we pay tribute to all in our society who have taken on the responsibilitie s and joys of fatherhood. Whether our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/on-father-s-day-we-pay-tribute-to-all-in-our-society-who-have-taken/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-limit-to-the-amount-of-good-you-can-do-if-you-don-t-care/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [It's not that liberals aren't smart, it's just that so much of what they know isn't so](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/it-s-not-that-liberals-aren-t-smart-it-s-just-that-so-much-of-what/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Love your country, not for her power or wealth, but for her selflessness and her idealism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/love-your-country-not-for-her-power-or-wealth-but-for-her/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Explore all 1,244 Ronald Reagan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## 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": "The real question today is not when human life begins, but, what is the value of human life? The abortionist who reassembles the arms and legs of a tiny baby to make sure all its parts have been torn from its mother's body can hardly doubt whether it is a human being. 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