--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By right, as the word is employed in this…" description: "\"By right, as the word is employed in this subject, has always been understood discretion, that is, a full and complete power of either doing a thing or..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d68/william-godwin-1978_atheism_by-right-as-the-word-is-employed-in-this_503053.jpg" --- # By right, as the word is employed in this subject, has… ![“By right, as the word is employed in this subject, has always been understood discretion, that is, a full and complete power of either doing a thing or omitting it, without the person's becoming liable to animadversion or censure from another, that is, in other words, without his incurring any…” quote by William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d68/william-godwin-1978_atheism_by-right-as-the-word-is-employed-in-this_503053.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d68/william-godwin-1978_atheism_by-right-as-the-word-is-employed-in-this_503053.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d68/william-godwin-1978_atheism_by-right-as-the-word-is-employed-in-this_503053.jpg) > “By right, as the word is employed in this subject, has always been understood discretion, that is, a full and complete power of either doing a thing or omitting it, without the person's becoming liable to animadversion or censure from another, that is, in other words, without his incurring any degree of turpitude or guilt. Now in this sense I affirm that man has no rights, no discretionary power whatever.” [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author argues that rights are not inherent powers; they are discretionary and can be limited without moral blame. **In simple terms:** Rights are not absolute; they are subject to discretion. Key Takeaway Recognize the limits of claimed rights. Themes politics philosophy law ethics Mood critical analytical Type philosophical theoretical When to use this quote - political debate - legal reform - ethical decision making Key Concepts social contract moral responsibility legal theory Questions to Reflect On - Do societies truly limit rights without blame? - How do cultural norms shape perceived rights? A Different Perspective Rights may be socially constructed, not natural. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Becoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/becoming/) [Censure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/censure/) [Degrees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degrees/) [Discretion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discretion/) [Discretionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discretionary-4206165/) [Discretionary Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discretionary-power-703671/) [Employed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employed/) [Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/) [Incurring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incurring/) [Liable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liable/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Omitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/omitting/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Positive atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-atheism/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Rights Discretionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights-discretionary-4278845/) [Subjects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjects/) [Understood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understood/) [Understood Discretion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understood-discretion-4278846/) ## Related quotes > [We repose an unwise confidence in any government, or in any men, when we invest them officially with too much, or an unnecessary quantity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/we-repose-an-unwise-confidence-in-any-government-or-in-any-men-when/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Know the difference between your necessary and discretionary expenses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-von-tobel/know-the-difference-between-your-necessary-and-discretionary-expenses/) [Alexa Von Tobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-von-tobel/) > [The decision to attack Iraq in March 2003 was discretionary; it was a war of choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/the-decision-to-attack-iraq-in-march-2003-was-discretionary-it-was-a/) [Richard N. 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