“There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences.”

— P. J. O'Rourke

The Liberty Manifesto (1993)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human du…" by P. J. O'Rourke?

P. J. O'Rourke 185

American journalist 1947

Marvi Sirmed (1972) Pakistani human rights courtesan

Source: Marvi Sirmed https://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/3270/where-did-the-blasphemy-law-come-from/

“The human rights activity is not the ordinary but the canonical duty of thinkers and artists and they should take it into their consideration.”

Taraneh Javanbakht (1974) Iranian scientist, faculty, poet, translator, playwright and writer

Source: Gooyanews website, 2014 http://news.gooya.com/politics/archives/2014/08/184645.php

“That monarch does not have the right to commit wrongdoing, not even one ounce of it. He only has the right to lead and to the basic necessities of life, or a little more, not to do whatever he pleases or to tyrannize the people.”

Subh-i-Azal (1831–1912) Persian religious leader

Treatise on Kingship

“If we believe a thing to be bad, and if we have a right to prevent it, it is our duty to try to prevent it and damn the consequences.”

Alfred Milner, 1st Viscount Milner (1854–1925) British statesman and colonial administrator

Source: Milner, in a speech given in Glasgow on November 26, 1909, on Lloyd George's "People's Budget", presented to Parliament, Lord Alfred Milner, cited in The Nation and The Empire, Constable, 1913, pgs. 400-401

“It was selfish and nothing more. The same way a child doesn't want to share her favorite toy. I understand that secrecy is part of, well, an aberrant behavior system. It comes from a bad place, not a place of light and generosity. And when you deprive your friends, or someone like your son Gunner, of experiences like I had, you're basically stealing from them. You're depriving them of something they have a right to. Knowledge is a basic human right. Equal access to all possible human experience is a basic human right.”

Dave Eggers book The Circle

Mae, to Bailey; p. 303
The Circle (2013)

“Fate gets you into positions of power. Life takes you there. I only do my duty and service to the people. I take all conditions as they come cheerfully and do my duty.”

Morarji Desai (1896–1995) Former Indian Finance Minister, Freedom Fighters, Former prime minister

Morarji Desai speaks about life and celibacy

“Rewriting unjust laws is a basic human right and fundamental obligation.”

Huey P. Newton (1942–1989) Co-founder of the Black Panther Party

From "In Defense of Self-defense" I (June 20, 1967)
To Die For The People
Context: Men were not created in order to obey laws. Laws are created to obey men. They are established by men and should serve men. The laws and rules which officials inflict upon poor people prevent them from functioning harmoniously in society. There is no disagreements about this function of law in any circle-the disagreement arises from the question of which men laws are to serve. Such lawmakers ignore the fact that it is the duty of the poor and unrepresented to construct rules and laws that serve their interest better. Rewriting unjust laws is a basic human right and fundamental obligation.

“Reorganisation, irrespectively of God or king, by the worship of Humanity, systematically adopted. Man’s only right is to do his duty. The Intellect should always be the servant of the Heart, and should never be its slave.”

Auguste Comte (1798–1857) French philosopher

Title Page
A General View of Positivism (1848, 1856)

“The first duty of a human being is to assume the right relationship to society -- more briefly, to find your real job, and do it.”

Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860–1935) American feminist, writer, commercial artist, lecturer and social reformer

“To renounce liberty is to renounce being a man, to surrender the rights of humanity and even its duties.”

Jean Jacques Rousseau book The Social Contract

Source: The Social Contract

“There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences.”

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

P. J. O'Rourke 185

Related quotes

Related topics