--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Health is a human right, not a privilege…" description: "\"Health is a human right, not a privilege to be purchased.\" — Shirley Chisholm" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c66/shirley-chisholm-5073_care_health-is-a-human-right-not-a-privilege_1836191.png" --- # Health is a human right, not a privilege to be purchased. ![“Health is a human right, not a privilege to be purchased.” quote by Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c66/shirley-chisholm-5073_care_health-is-a-human-right-not-a-privilege_1836191.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c66/shirley-chisholm-5073_care_health-is-a-human-right-not-a-privilege_1836191.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c66/shirley-chisholm-5073_care_health-is-a-human-right-not-a-privilege_1836191.png) > “Health is a human right, not a privilege to be purchased.” [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Health care should be guaranteed for all people, not treated as a market commodity. **In simple terms:** Health is a right, not a purchasable privilege. Key Takeaway Advocate for universal health coverage. Themes e justice public policy human rights Mood determined urgent Type political ethical When to use this quote - policy debates - community organizing - legislative advocacy - public education Key Concepts social welfare economic inequality public health Questions to Reflect On - How can societies fund health as a right? - What barriers exist to universal coverage? A Different Perspective Implementation requires massive funding and political consensus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Health care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-care/) [Human Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-right/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) ## Related quotes > [“Health is a human necessity; health is a human right”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lenhart/health-is-a-human-necessity-health-is-a-human-right/) James Lenhart > [Health and Human Services has an enormous amount of discretion that they have so far used to make it harder to get affordable health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/health-and-human-services-has-an-enormous-amount-of-discretion-that/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [Health care is a right, not a privilege. In order for that right to be shared by everyone, it's very important that we eliminate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/health-care-is-a-right-not-a-privilege-in-order-for-that-right-to-be/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [Health care is not a commodity or privilege, but a human right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julio-frenk/health-care-is-not-a-commodity-or-privilege-but-a-human-right/) Julio Frenk > [A lesbian woman came up to me and said, ‘why are you denying me my right?’ I said, ‘well, because it’s not a right.’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/a-lesbian-woman-came-up-to-me-and-said-why-are-you-denying-me-my/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [Independence is a right, not a privilege.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/independence-is-a-right-not-a-privilege/) Author Name > [Whether you happen to be a gay man in Tanzania or someone who's imprisoned in Tanzania, it's your human right to have access to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-birx/whether-you-happen-to-be-a-gay-man-in-tanzania-or-someone-who-s/) [Deborah Birx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-birx/) > [In 2017, long before I ran for the Senate, I was arrested at the U.S. Capitol while protesting for expanded access to health care.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-warnock/in-2017-long-before-i-ran-for-the-senate-i-was-arrested-at-the-u-s/) [Raphael Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-warnock/) > [Health care is a human right, and single-payer health care will deliver quality, affordable care to every Illinoisan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-pritzker/health-care-is-a-human-right-and-single-payer-health-care-will/) [J. B. Pritzker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-pritzker/) > [I believe that health care is a human right - and if you believe it's a human right, you don't believe it's a human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-warnock/i-believe-that-health-care-is-a-human-right-and-if-you-believe-it-s-a/) [Raphael Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-warnock/) > [Love is not a right. 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It's a privilege.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-leaf/coaching-in-college-is-not-a-right-it-s-a-privilege/) [Ryan Leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-leaf/) > [I would like to make it so that education was a right, and not a privilege.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-koller/i-would-like-to-make-it-so-that-education-was-a-right-and-not-a/) [Daphne Koller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-koller/) ## More by Shirley Chisholm > [It is obvious that discrimination exists. Women do not have the opportunities that men do. And women that do not conform to the system,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/it-is-obvious-that-discrimination-exists-women-do-not-have-the/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [Legal discrimination between the sexes is, in almost every instance, founded on outmoded views of society and the pre-scientific beliefs about psychology and physiology.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/legal-discrimination-between-the-sexes-is-in-almost-every-instance/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [Tremendous amounts of talent are lost to our society just because that talent wears a skirt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/tremendous-amounts-of-talent-are-lost-to-our-society-just-because/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [It is not heroin or cocaine that makes one an addict, it is the need to escape from a harsh reality. There are more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/it-is-not-heroin-or-cocaine-that-makes-one-an-addict-it-is-the-need/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [I love America not for what she is, but for what she can become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-love-america-not-for-what-she-is-but-for-what-she-can-become/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [I am and always will be a catalyst for change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-am-and-always-will-be-a-catalyst-for-change/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [The liberals in the House strongly resemble liberals I have known through the last two decades in the civil rights conflict. When it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/the-liberals-in-the-house-strongly-resemble-liberals-i-have-known/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [I am not antiwhite, because I understand that white people, like black ones, are victims of a racist society. They are products of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-am-not-antiwhite-because-i-understand-that-white-people-like-black/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [The emotional, sexual, and psychological stereotyping of females begins when the doctor says: It's a girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/the-emotional-sexual-and-psychological-stereotyping-of-females-begins/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [I had met far more discrimination because I am a woman than because I am black.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-had-met-far-more-discrimination-because-i-am-a-woman-than-because-i/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [Some fine men are in Congress, too few, trying to do a responsible job. But they are surrounded and almost neutralized by a greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/some-fine-men-are-in-congress-too-few-trying-to-do-a-responsible-job/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [“Following along the path of her role models, Shirley knew that if she waited for permission, she’d never receive her turn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/following-along-the-path-of-her-role-models-shirley-knew-that-if-she/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [I ran because somebody had to do it first. In this country, everybody is supposed to be able to run for president, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-ran-because-somebody-had-to-do-it-first-in-this-country-everybody/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [“The most tragic error into which older people can fall is one that is common among educators and politicians. It is to use youth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/the-most-tragic-error-into-which-older-people-can-fall-is-one-that-is/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [I have never cared too much what people say. What I am interested in is what they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-have-never-cared-too-much-what-people-say-what-i-am-interested-in/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) [Explore all 103 Shirley Chisholm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) ## More Care quotes > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [We all know what it feels like to love someone and care about them and want to protect them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiana-madeira/we-all-know-what-it-feels-like-to-love-someone-and-care-about-them/) [Kiana Madeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiana-madeira/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [I certainly do care for you Jeff Campbell less than you are always thinking and much more than you are ever knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/i-certainly-do-care-for-you-jeff-campbell-less-than-you-are-always/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-believe-in-taxation-and-health-care-that-is-outside-the-usual/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [What makes you care about nature, about the planet? Is it really that you're afraid of what's going to happen if you don't take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/what-makes-you-care-about-nature-about-the-planet-is-it-really-that/) [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [When will society, like a mother, take care of all her children?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/when-will-society-like-a-mother-take-care-of-all-her-children/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [I don't care if you make a print on a bath mat, just as long as it is a good print.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-weston/i-don-t-care-if-you-make-a-print-on-a-bath-mat-just-as-long-as-it-is/) [Edward Weston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-weston/) > [The world's problems are, by and large, human problems-the unavoidable consequence of egoic sleepwalking. 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