--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am a rebel by birth... I contest…" description: "\"I am a rebel by birth... I contest anything that is unjust, that causes suffering in humanity. My feelings about that are so strong, I don't think I co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/569/yip-harburg-20358_birth_i-am-a-rebel-by-birth-i-contest-anything_2247486.png" --- # I am a rebel by birth... I contest anything that is… ![“I am a rebel by birth... I contest anything that is unjust, that causes suffering in humanity. My feelings about that are so strong, I don't think I could live with myself if I weren't honest.” quote by Yip Harburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/569/yip-harburg-20358_birth_i-am-a-rebel-by-birth-i-contest-anything_2247486.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/569/yip-harburg-20358_birth_i-am-a-rebel-by-birth-i-contest-anything_2247486.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/569/yip-harburg-20358_birth_i-am-a-rebel-by-birth-i-contest-anything_2247486.png) > “I am a rebel by birth... I contest anything that is unjust, that causes suffering in humanity. My feelings about that are so strong, I don't think I could live with myself if I weren't honest.” [Yip Harburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yip-harburg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker sees themselves as a rebel, opposing injustice and suffering, driven by strong moral convictions. **In simple terms:** Moral rebellion. Key Takeaway Stand up for justice despite personal cost. Themes justice rebellion ethics Mood passionate principled Type ethical activist When to use this quote - advocacy - human rights work - public speaking Key Concepts moral courage social activism Questions to Reflect On - What causes you to act? - How do you handle opposition? A Different Perspective Rebellion can lead to conflict or isolation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Birth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Rebel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rebel/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [When I refuse to obey an unjust law, I do not contest the right of the majority to command, but I simply appeal from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/when-i-refuse-to-obey-an-unjust-law-i-do-not-contest-the-right-of-the/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Whether it comes from a despotic sovereign or an elected president, from a murderous general or a beloved leader, I see power as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/whether-it-comes-from-a-despotic-sovereign-or-an-elected-president/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [“all the suffering that humanity ever knew can be traced to the one fact that no man in the history of the Galaxy, until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/all-the-suffering-that-humanity-ever-knew-can-be-traced-to-the-one/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [There will be no major solution to the suffering of humanity until we reach some understanding of who we are, what the purpose of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/there-will-be-no-major-solution-to-the-suffering-of-humanity-until-we/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Hast thou attuned thyself to the suffering of humanity, O candidate for light?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-blavatsky/hast-thou-attuned-thyself-to-the-suffering-of-humanity-o-candidate/) [H. P. Blavatsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-blavatsky/) > [Just imagine what would happen if practicing physicians, the ones who have come into contact directly with suffering humanity, had some acquaintance with Eastern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/just-imagine-what-would-happen-if-practicing-physicians-the-ones-who/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [“All this talk about 'suffering humanity' is principally drivel based on the error of transferring one's own psychology to one's neighbour. The Golden Rule…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/all-this-talk-about-suffering-humanity-is-principally-drivel-based-on/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [I wanted to discuss the suffering of humanity in general, but perhaps we'd better confine ourselves to the sufferings of children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/i-wanted-to-discuss-the-suffering-of-humanity-in-general-but-perhaps/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“I think a look at suffering humanity would lead to the realization that trauma is perhaps the greatest mission field of the twenty-first century.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-mandt-langberg/i-think-a-look-at-suffering-humanity-would-lead-to-the-realization/) Diane Mandt Langberg > [“I have no doubt that she is sincerely desirous of seeing all the evils of suffering humanity remedied, and that she thinks this might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/i-have-no-doubt-that-she-is-sincerely-desirous-of-seeing-all-the/) [Frédéric Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [We poets don't tend to be certain a lot. Much of our art is made out of our own uncertainty. And there is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hamill/we-poets-don-t-tend-to-be-certain-a-lot-much-of-our-art-is-made-out/) [Sam Hamill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hamill/) > [Blessed be the inventor of photography! I set him above even the inventor of chloroform! It has given more positive pleasure to poor suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-welsh-carlyle/blessed-be-the-inventor-of-photography-i-set-him-above-even-the/) [Jane Welsh Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-welsh-carlyle/) > [“Perhaps our suffering is part of our humanity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-l-barr/perhaps-our-suffering-is-part-of-our-humanity/) [Christina L. Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-l-barr/) > [I did not bow down to you, I bowed down to all the suffering of humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/i-did-not-bow-down-to-you-i-bowed-down-to-all-the-suffering-of/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [I expect to plead not for the slave only, but for suffering humanity everywhere. Especially do I mean to labor for the elevation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-stone/i-expect-to-plead-not-for-the-slave-only-but-for-suffering-humanity/) [Lucy Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-stone/) ## More by Yip Harburg > [If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow, why oh why can't I?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yip-harburg/if-happy-little-bluebirds-fly-beyond-the-rainbow-why-oh-why-can-t-i/) [Yip Harburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yip-harburg/) > [This we learn from Watergate that almost any creep'll be glad to help the Government overthrow the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yip-harburg/this-we-learn-from-watergate-that-almost-any-creep-ll-be-glad-to-help/) [Yip Harburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yip-harburg/) > [WHERE and WHEN, Are lost in space. THERE and THEN, Do not embrace. So before we disappear, Come sweet NOW and kiss the HERE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yip-harburg/where-and-when-are-lost-in-space-there-and-then-do-not-embrace-so/) [Yip Harburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yip-harburg/) > [I am one of the last of a small tribe of troubadours, who still believe that life is a beautiful and exciting journey with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yip-harburg/i-am-one-of-the-last-of-a-small-tribe-of-troubadours-who-still/) [Yip Harburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yip-harburg/) > [How are things in Glocca Mora this fine day?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yip-harburg/how-are-things-in-glocca-mora-this-fine-day/) [Yip Harburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yip-harburg/) > [For what we are about to receive, Oh Lord 'tis Thee we thank,' said the cannibal as he cut a slice off the missionary's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yip-harburg/for-what-we-are-about-to-receive-oh-lord-tis-thee-we-thank-said-the/) [Yip Harburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yip-harburg/) > [Music gives 'wings' to words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yip-harburg/music-gives-wings-to-words/) [Yip Harburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yip-harburg/) > [It's a Barnum and Bailey world, Just as phony as it can be...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yip-harburg/it-s-a-barnum-and-bailey-world-just-as-phony-as-it-can-be/) [Yip Harburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yip-harburg/) > [Songs are the pulse of a nation's heart. A fever chart of its health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yip-harburg/songs-are-the-pulse-of-a-nation-s-heart-a-fever-chart-of-its-health/) [Yip Harburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yip-harburg/) > [A Russian child asked his mother : "does God know we don't believe in Him?"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yip-harburg/a-russian-child-asked-his-mother-does-god-know-we-don-t-believe-in-him/) [Yip Harburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yip-harburg/) > [When the melody touches your heart emotionally and the words hit your brain intellectually, more than likely you'll find you'll have an excellent song…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yip-harburg/when-the-melody-touches-your-heart-emotionally-and-the-words-hit-your/) [Yip Harburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yip-harburg/) > [Lives of great men all remind us, Greatness takes no easy way, All the heroes of tomorrow, Are the heretics of today. Socrates and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yip-harburg/lives-of-great-men-all-remind-us-greatness-takes-no-easy-way-all-the/) [Yip Harburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yip-harburg/) > [We gotta be free - The eagle and me. see Amelia Jenks Bloomer, Emancipation of Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yip-harburg/we-gotta-be-free-the-eagle-and-me-see-amelia-jenks-bloomer/) [Yip Harburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yip-harburg/) > [Virtue is its own revenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yip-harburg/virtue-is-its-own-revenge/) [Yip Harburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yip-harburg/) > [The greatest romance in the life of a lyricist is when the right word meets the right note; often, however, a Park Avenue phrase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yip-harburg/the-greatest-romance-in-the-life-of-a-lyricist-is-when-the-right-word/) [Yip Harburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yip-harburg/) [Explore all 31 Yip Harburg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yip-harburg/) ## More Birth quotes > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974 > [In the entire history of the universe, let alone in your own history, there has never been another day just like today, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/in-the-entire-history-of-the-universe-let-alone-in-your-own-history/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [The greatest mystery in life is not life itself, but death. Death is the culmination of life, the ultimate blossoming of life. In death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/the-greatest-mystery-in-life-is-not-life-itself-but-death-death-is/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Guns have little or nothing to do with juvenile violence. The causes of youth violence are working parents who put their kids into daycare,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/guns-have-little-or-nothing-to-do-with-juvenile-violence-the-causes/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [“Every child is born as angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-child-is-born-as-angel/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Nirvana is a word that means enlightenment, being beyond the illusion of birth and death, the illusion of pain, the illusion of love, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/nirvana-is-a-word-that-means-enlightenment-being-beyond-the-illusion/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [There are two kinds of beauty; there is a beauty which God gives at birth, and which withers as a flower. And there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-kuyper/there-are-two-kinds-of-beauty-there-is-a-beauty-which-god-gives-at/) [Abraham Kuyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-kuyper/) > [Always keep the smile, because the smile is the beginning of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-imad/always-keep-the-smile-because-the-smile-is-the-beginning-of-love/) Adam Imad > [The wailing of the newborn infant is mingled with the dirge for the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/the-wailing-of-the-newborn-infant-is-mingled-with-the-dirge-for-the/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [I gave birth to most of them MC's... 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