--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If abandoning animal research means that…" description: "\"If abandoning animal research means that there are some things we cannot learn, then so be it ... We have no basic right ... not to be harmed by those ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09b/tom-regan-25402_abandoning_if-abandoning-animal-research-means-that_1221508.png" --- # If abandoning animal research means that there are some… ![“If abandoning animal research means that there are some things we cannot learn, then so be it ... We have no basic right ... not to be harmed by those natural diseases we are heir to.” quote by Tom Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09b/tom-regan-25402_abandoning_if-abandoning-animal-research-means-that_1221508.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09b/tom-regan-25402_abandoning_if-abandoning-animal-research-means-that_1221508.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09b/tom-regan-25402_abandoning_if-abandoning-animal-research-means-that_1221508.png) > “If abandoning animal research means that there are some things we cannot learn, then so be it ... We have no basic right ... not to be harmed by those natural diseases we are heir to.” [Tom Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-regan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If we abandon animal research, we for lose valuable knowledge, but we also respect the right of animals not to suffer from diseases we inherit. **In simple terms:** Choosing between knowledge and animal welfare. Key Takeaway Balance scientific progress with ethical treatment. Themes ethics science animal rights Mood analytical ethical Type philosophical policy-oriented When to use this quote - medical research planning - policy making - educational curricula Key Concepts Moral philosophy research ethics Questions to Reflect On - Can humane alternatives match research benefits? - What responsibilities do we have to sentient beings? A Different Perspective Alternative methods may not fully replace animal studies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animal activist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal-activist/) [Animal research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal-research/) [Animal rights activists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal-rights-activists/) [Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease/) [Heirs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heirs/) [Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research/) ## Related quotes > [If it were a retarded baby and a bright dog, I'd save the dog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-regan/if-it-were-a-retarded-baby-and-a-bright-dog-i-d-save-the-dog/) [Tom Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-regan/) > [Research means that you don't know, but are willing to find out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/research-means-that-you-don-t-know-but-are-willing-to-find-out/) [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) > [The type of science that I do is sometimes known as 'curiosity-driven research.' This means that my work will never result in a marketable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-jahren/the-type-of-science-that-i-do-is-sometimes-known-as-curiosity-driven/) [Hope Jahren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-jahren/) > [In much of society, research means to investigate something you do not know or understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-armstrong/in-much-of-society-research-means-to-investigate-something-you-do-not/) [Neil Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-armstrong/) > [Research, research, research. It means everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/research-research-research-it-means-everything/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Research now means a Google search.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-palfrey/research-now-means-a-google-search/) [John Palfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-palfrey/) > [If an 'animal abuser' were killed in a research lab firebombing, I would unequivocally support that, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-yourofsky/if-an-animal-abuser-were-killed-in-a-research-lab-firebombing-i-would/) [Gary Yourofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-yourofsky/) > [I wish I could do it again, only I wish I could take all of the animals out of the environmental fur farm ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-coronado/i-wish-i-could-do-it-again-only-i-wish-i-could-take-all-of-the/) [Rod Coronado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-coronado/) > [We live longer and healthier lives than ever before. Animal research has improved the treatment of infections, helped with immunisation, improved cancer treatment and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/we-live-longer-and-healthier-lives-than-ever-before-animal-research/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) > [Animal research and testing has played a part in almost every medical breakthrough of the last century. It has saved hundreds of millions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-ryan/animal-research-and-testing-has-played-a-part-in-almost-every-medical/) [Joan Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-ryan/) > [Animal research saves lives, but wherever possible alternatives should be used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sainsbury-baron-sainsbury-of-turville/animal-research-saves-lives-but-wherever-possible-alternatives-should/) [David Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sainsbury-baron-sainsbury-of-turville/) > [Perhaps the mere idea of receiving a nasty missive will allow animal researchers to empathize with their victims for the first time in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/perhaps-the-mere-idea-of-receiving-a-nasty-missive-will-allow-animal/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [...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 > [Animal research has lead to advances in the treatment of many conditions... Where there is no alternative available, we will continue to ensure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-burnham/animal-research-has-lead-to-advances-in-the-treatment-of-many/) [Andy Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-burnham/) > [“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 Tom Regan > [The world is not going to change overnight, nor in my lifetime, nor in my grandchildren's lifetime. But it will change, if we change,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-regan/the-world-is-not-going-to-change-overnight-nor-in-my-lifetime-nor-in/) [Tom Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-regan/) > [I would encourage them never to forget that they were not always vegans. The self-righteousness of the recently converted hurts, it does not help,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-regan/i-would-encourage-them-never-to-forget-that-they-were-not-always/) [Tom Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-regan/) > [“Because we have viewed other animals through the myopic lens of our self-importance, we have misperceived who and what they are. Because we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-regan/because-we-have-viewed-other-animals-through-the-myopic-lens-of-our/) [Tom Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-regan/) > [Veganism affirms what is best for us, what is best for the animals, and what is best for the environment. Everywhere you look, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-regan/veganism-affirms-what-is-best-for-us-what-is-best-for-the-animals-and/) [Tom Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-regan/) > [It is not an act of kindness to treat animals respectfully. It is an act of justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-regan/it-is-not-an-act-of-kindness-to-treat-animals-respectfully-it-is-an/) [Tom Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-regan/) > [Being kind to animals is not enough. Avoiding cruelty is not enough. Housing animals in more comfortable, larger cages is not enough. Whether we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-regan/being-kind-to-animals-is-not-enough-avoiding-cruelty-is-not-enough/) [Tom Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-regan/) > [Live your life in ways that do not support wars, whosoever are the victims.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-regan/live-your-life-in-ways-that-do-not-support-wars-whosoever-are-the/) [Tom Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-regan/) > [If it were a retarded baby and a bright dog, I'd save the dog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-regan/if-it-were-a-retarded-baby-and-a-bright-dog-i-d-save-the-dog/) [Tom Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-regan/) > [In a perfect world, we would not keep animals for our benefit, including pets,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-regan/in-a-perfect-world-we-would-not-keep-animals-for-our-benefit/) [Tom Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-regan/) > [Never give other people another reason to ignore other animals. That's what we do when we come across as being so much better than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-regan/never-give-other-people-another-reason-to-ignore-other-animals-that-s/) [Tom Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-regan/) > [Once you become a vegan, the food of the world opens up to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-regan/once-you-become-a-vegan-the-food-of-the-world-opens-up-to-you/) [Tom Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-regan/) > [The culture isn't set up to embrace what we think and feel. Any doubt about that, just watch the ads on TV. They tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-regan/the-culture-isn-t-set-up-to-embrace-what-we-think-and-feel-any-doubt/) [Tom Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-regan/) > [The other animals humans eat, use in science, hunt, trap, and exploit in a variety of ways, have a life of their own that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-regan/the-other-animals-humans-eat-use-in-science-hunt-trap-and-exploit-in/) [Tom Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-regan/) > [It is not larger, cleaner cages that justice demands...but empty cages; not traditional animal agriculture but a complete end to all commerce in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-regan/it-is-not-larger-cleaner-cages-that-justice-demands-but-empty-cages/) [Tom Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-regan/) > [When I say a vegan diet can be "the healthiest dietary option we can live by," I mean an informed vegan diet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-regan/when-i-say-a-vegan-diet-can-be-the-healthiest-dietary-option-we-can/) [Tom Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-regan/) [Explore all 23 Tom Regan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-regan/) ## More Abandoning quotes > [“Also, don’t be timid about your conclusions. Sometimes abandoning what you’re working on is the right move, even if you’ve already put in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-fried/also-don-t-be-timid-about-your-conclusions-sometimes-abandoning-what/) [Jason Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-fried/) > [“Someone who cannot abandon everything cannot achieve anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armin-arlet-shingeki-no-kyojin/someone-who-cannot-abandon-everything-cannot-achieve-anything/) Armin Arlet Shingeki no Kyojin > [I stay away from the studio too long, I feel like I'm abandoning myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/offset/i-stay-away-from-the-studio-too-long-i-feel-like-i-m-abandoning-myself/) Offset > [Being a father is like you are in heaven,abandoning y0ur kids is forever hell..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-grace/being-a-father-is-like-you-are-in-heaven-abandoning-y0ur-kids-is/) Tanya Grace > [Happiness does not come from the things that we have but the abandoning of things that we cling to, by letting go of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-griffin/happiness-does-not-come-from-the-things-that-we-have-but-the/) [Kevin Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-griffin/) > [Only the idea of death makes a warrior sufficiently detached so that he is capable of abandoning himself to anything. He knows his death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/only-the-idea-of-death-makes-a-warrior-sufficiently-detached-so-that/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [“Through the realization that what is seen is of one's own mind, Clinging to duality is abandoned. Abandoning means fully understanding And not destroying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-brunnholzl/through-the-realization-that-what-is-seen-is-of-one-s-own-mind/) [Karl Brunnholzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-brunnholzl/) > [Anything worth putting off is worth abandoning altogether.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/anything-worth-putting-off-is-worth-abandoning-altogether/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [The addictive pleasure of abandoning yourself to a book, of losing consciousness of your worries, your body, and your surroundings, to become a ghost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-setterfield/the-addictive-pleasure-of-abandoning-yourself-to-a-book-of-losing/) [Diane Setterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-setterfield/) > [What if she was meant to be, or could have been, someone important in my life? I think that's what scares me: the randomness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cameron/what-if-she-was-meant-to-be-or-could-have-been-someone-important-in/) [Peter Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cameron/) > [There is nothing compassionate about abandoning the mentally ill to the streets and making the rest of us live in their bedlam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-devine/there-is-nothing-compassionate-about-abandoning-the-mentally-ill-to/) [Miranda Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-devine/) > [I'm staying," Henry said, annoyed. "Why?" "Because, if I leave, it would be like abandoning two mentally challenged people in a nuclear waste dump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lutz/i-m-staying-henry-said-annoyed-why-because-if-i-leave-it-would-be/) [Lisa Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lutz/) > [“It's way too long and I gave up on it. Abandoning forever an innocent child to a hostile and unforgiving land. Sometimes I still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahtzee-croshaw/it-s-way-too-long-and-i-gave-up-on-it-abandoning-forever-an-innocent/) [Yahtzee Croshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahtzee-croshaw/) > [“The problem here is pain. Filling out the appropriate paperwork to drop out of med school is a straightforward and obvious action; breaking your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/the-problem-here-is-pain-filling-out-the-appropriate-paperwork-to/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [The most important factor in abandoning our thoughts is to look in the Bible and see what God says about a matter. Then we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-p-yohannan/the-most-important-factor-in-abandoning-our-thoughts-is-to-look-in/) [K.P. Yohannan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-p-yohannan/) Browse all 52 Abandoning quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If abandoning animal research means that there are some things we cannot learn, then so be it ... We have no basic right ... not to be harmed by those natural diseases we are heir to.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Regan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-regan/if-abandoning-animal-research-means-that-there-are-some-things-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abandoning" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-regan/if-abandoning-animal-research-means-that-there-are-some-things-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09b/tom-regan-25402_abandoning_if-abandoning-animal-research-means-that_1221508.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09b/tom-regan-25402_abandoning_if-abandoning-animal-research-means-that_1221508.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09b/tom-regan-25402_abandoning_if-abandoning-animal-research-means-that_1221508.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If abandoning animal research means that there are some things we cannot learn, then so be it ... We have no…” — Tom Regan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tom Regan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-regan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If abandoning animal research means that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-regan/if-abandoning-animal-research-means-that-there-are-some-things-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-regan/if-abandoning-animal-research-means-that-there-are-some-things-we/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```