--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Human rights, human freedoms, and human…" description: "\"Human rights, human freedoms, and human dignity have their deepest roots somewhere outside the perceptible world. These values are as powerful as they ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/450/vaclav-havel-2013_accepting_human-rights-human-freedoms-and-human-di_886357.jpg" --- # Human rights, human freedoms, and human dignity have their… ![“Human rights, human freedoms, and human dignity have their deepest roots somewhere outside the perceptible world. These values are as powerful as they are because, under certain circumstances, people accept them without compulsion and are willing to die for them.” quote by Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/450/vaclav-havel-2013_accepting_human-rights-human-freedoms-and-human-di_886357.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/450/vaclav-havel-2013_accepting_human-rights-human-freedoms-and-human-di_886357.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/450/vaclav-havel-2013_accepting_human-rights-human-freedoms-and-human-di_886357.jpg) > “Human rights, human freedoms, and human dignity have their deepest roots somewhere outside the perceptible world. These values are as powerful as they are because, under certain circumstances, people accept them without compulsion and are willing to die for them.” [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fundamental human values stem from a realm beyond perception, compelling people to sacrifice for them. **In simple terms:** Deep values inspire sacrifice. Key Takeaway Protect universal rights. Themes human rights dignity freedom Mood serious reflective Type political ethical When to use this quote - activism - legal reform - education - civil disobedience Key Concepts moral philosophy political theory Questions to Reflect On - Why do people risk everything for abstract ideals? - How can societies nurture these values? A Different Perspective Such ideals can clash with pragmatic politics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compulsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compulsion/) [Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignity/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Human dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-dignity/) [Human freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-freedom/) [Human rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-rights/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Patriotic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotic/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Human rights, human freedoms... and human dignity have their deepest roots somewhere outside the perceptible world... while the state is a human creation, human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/human-rights-human-freedoms-and-human-dignity-have-their-deepest-2/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [The last of the human freedoms is to choose one's attitudes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-last-of-the-human-freedoms-is-to-choose-one-s-attitudes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The last of the human freedoms — to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-last-of-the-human-freedoms-to-choose-one-s-attitude-in-any-given-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No one can take from us the ability to choose our attitudes toward the circumstances in which we find ourselves. This is the last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/no-one-can-take-from-us-the-ability-to-choose-our-attitudes-toward/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [The psychedelic issue is a civil rights and civil liberties issue. It is an issue concerned with the most basic of human freedoms: religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/the-psychedelic-issue-is-a-civil-rights-and-civil-liberties-issue-it/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [The last of human freedoms - the ability to chose one's attitude especially an attitude of gratitude in a given set of circumstances especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/the-last-of-human-freedoms-the-ability-to-chose-one-s-attitude/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Since Castro took power, the Cuban people have been denied basic human freedoms. No freedom of religion, no freedom of the press, no political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/since-castro-took-power-the-cuban-people-have-been-denied-basic-human/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [We look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression. The second is freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/we-look-forward-to-a-world-founded-upon-four-essential-human-freedoms-2/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [As for what it's against - the story is against those who pervert and misuse religion, or any other kind of doctrine with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/as-for-what-it-s-against-the-story-is-against-those-who-pervert-and/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [I pass no judgment about historic events. I defend the human freedoms. Whatever event has taken place throughout history, or hasn't taken place, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-ahmadinejad/i-pass-no-judgment-about-historic-events-i-defend-the-human-freedoms/) [Mahmoud Ahmadinejad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-ahmadinejad/) > [We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/we-who-lived-in-concentration-camps-can-remember-the-men-who-walked/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“One of the few freedoms that we have as human beings that cannot be taken away from us is the freedom to assent to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/one-of-the-few-freedoms-that-we-have-as-human-beings-that-cannot-be/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [Love for others and respect for their rights and their human dignity, irrespective of who or what they are, no matter what religion -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/love-for-others-and-respect-for-their-rights-and-their-human-dignity/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [I learnt about the universe. I learnt about human rights and human dignity - this was so new to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/i-learnt-about-the-universe-i-learnt-about-human-rights-and-human/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [When we achieve human rights and human dignity for all people - they will build a peaceful, sustainable, and just world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-guterres/when-we-achieve-human-rights-and-human-dignity-for-all-people-they/) [Antonio Guterres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-guterres/) ## More by Vaclav Havel > [I am convinced that we will never build a democratic state based on rule of law if we do not at the same time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/i-am-convinced-that-we-will-never-build-a-democratic-state-based-on/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [People who live in the post-totalitarian system know only too well that the question of whether one or several political parties are in power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/people-who-live-in-the-post-totalitarian-system-know-only-too-well/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [“For by this very fact, individuals confirm the system, fulfill the system, make the system, are the system.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/for-by-this-very-fact-individuals-confirm-the-system-fulfill-the/) [Václav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [Hope is not a feeling of certainty that everything ends well. Hope is just a feeling that life and work have a meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/hope-is-not-a-feeling-of-certainty-that-everything-ends-well-hope-is/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [This is a confusing and uncertain period, when a thousand wise words can go completely unnoticed, and one thoughtless word can provoke an utterly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/this-is-a-confusing-and-uncertain-period-when-a-thousand-wise-words/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [If by believing you mean praying to an anthropomorphic deity who created the world and half controls it and half observes it, then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/if-by-believing-you-mean-praying-to-an-anthropomorphic-deity-who/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [Human beings are compelled to live within a lie, but they can be compelled to do so only because they are in fact capable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/human-beings-are-compelled-to-live-within-a-lie-but-they-can-be/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [Our country, if that is what we want, can now permanently radiate love, understanding, the power of the spirit and of ideas. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/our-country-if-that-is-what-we-want-can-now-permanently-radiate-love/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [I cannot imagine that I could strive for something if I did not carry hope in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/i-cannot-imagine-that-i-could-strive-for-something-if-i-did-not-carry/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [People, your Government has returned to you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/people-your-government-has-returned-to-you/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [A person who has been seduced by the consumer value system, whose identity is dissolved in an amalgam of the accouterments trappings of mass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/a-person-who-has-been-seduced-by-the-consumer-value-system-whose/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [Whether all is really lost or not depends entirely on whether or not I am lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/whether-all-is-really-lost-or-not-depends-entirely-on-whether-or-not/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [Sober perseverance is more effective than enthusiastic emotions, which are all too capable of being transferred, with little difficulty, to something different each day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/sober-perseverance-is-more-effective-than-enthusiastic-emotions-which/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [The exercise of power is determined by thousands of interactions between the world of the powerful and that of the powerless, all the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/the-exercise-of-power-is-determined-by-thousands-of-interactions/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [It's not true that you should first think up an idea for a better world and only then "put it into practice," but, rather,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/it-s-not-true-that-you-should-first-think-up-an-idea-for-a-better/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) [Explore all 190 Vaclav Havel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Human rights, human freedoms, and human dignity have their deepest roots somewhere outside the perceptible world. 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