--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Necessity is the plea for every…" description: "\"“Necessity is the plea for every infringement on human rights. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.”\" — William Pitt the Younger" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/william-pitt-the-younger-59006_human-rights_necessity-is-the-plea-for-every-infringe_854008.jpg" --- # Necessity is the plea for every infringement on human… ![“Necessity is the plea for every infringement on human rights. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.” quote by William Pitt the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/william-pitt-the-younger-59006_human-rights_necessity-is-the-plea-for-every-infringe_854008.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/william-pitt-the-younger-59006_human-rights_necessity-is-the-plea-for-every-infringe_854008.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/william-pitt-the-younger-59006_human-rights_necessity-is-the-plea-for-every-infringe_854008.jpg) > ““Necessity is the plea for every infringement on human rights. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.”” [William Pitt the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-pitt-the-younger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rights are often violated under the guise of necessity, a rationalization used by oppressors and accepted by the oppressed. **In simple terms:** Necessity is used to justify rights violations. Key Takeaway Question claims of necessity in policies. Themes politics human rights ethics Mood critical cautionary Type political philosophical When to use this quote - legislation review - activism - public discourse - education Key Concepts power dynamics moral philosophy law Questions to Reflect On - How can societies distinguish genuine necessity from abuse? - What safeguards protect against tyranny? A Different Perspective Not all claims of necessity are genuine; some are pretexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Human rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-rights/) [Necessity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/necessity/) ## Related quotes > [Necessity is the argument of tyrants, it is the creed of slaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-pitt-the-younger/necessity-is-the-argument-of-tyrants-it-is-the-creed-of-slaves/) [William Pitt The Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-pitt-the-younger/) > [Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-pitt-the-younger/necessity-is-the-plea-for-every-infringement-of-human-freedom-it-is/) [William Pitt The Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-pitt-the-younger/) > [“It is not just a human rights argument, it is the Warren Buffett argument and the Christine Lagarde argument: Countries that want to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-nordberg/it-is-not-just-a-human-rights-argument-it-is-the-warren-buffett/) [Jenny Nordberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-nordberg/) > [Was not necessity the plea of every illegal exertion of power or exercise of oppression?...Necessity is the plea for very infringement of human freedom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-pitt/was-not-necessity-the-plea-of-every-illegal-exertion-of-power-or/) [William Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-pitt/) > [“The value of a sacrifice lies in its necessity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/the-value-of-a-sacrifice-lies-in-its-necessity/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [It is a misfortune that necessity has induced men to accord greater license to this formidable engine, in order to obtain liberty, than can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/it-is-a-misfortune-that-necessity-has-induced-men-to-accord-greater/) [James F. 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