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Oppression Quotes

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Oppression Quotes

“Ethical veganism results in a profound revolution within the individual; a complete rejection of the paradigm of oppression and violence that she has been taught from childhood to accept as the natural order. It changes her life and the lives of those with whom she shares this vision of nonviolence. Ethical veganism is anything but passive; on the contrary, it is the active refusal to cooperate with injustice”

“We live in a culture that has institutionalized the oppression of animals on at least two levels: in formal structures such as slaughterhouses, meat markets, zoos, laboratories, and circuses, and through our language. That we refer to meat eating rather than to corpse eating is a central example of how our language transmits the dominant culture's approval of this activity.”

Source: The Sexual Politics of Meat: A Feminist-Vegetarian Critical Theory

“How shall Integrity face Oppression? What shall Honesty do in the face of Deception, Decency in the face of Insult, Self-Defense before Blows? How shall Desert and Accomplishment meet Despising, Detraction, and Lies? What shall Virtue do to meet Brute Force? There are so many answers and so contradictory; and such differences for those on the one hand who meet questions similar to this once a year or once a decade, and those who face them hourly and daily.”

“The essence of oppression is that one is defined from the outside by those who define themselves as superior by criteria of their own choice.”

Choices Essence Superiors Oppression Defined Criteria

Book:Pornography: men possessing women

Source: Pornography: men possessing women

“Do remember, though, that sometimes the people you oppress become mightier than you would like.”

People Sometimes Remember Tyranny Oppression Novelists Insurgent

Author:Veronica Roth

“In modern capitalism economic exploitation rather than political oppression is the real enemy of the people.”

People Real Political Enemy Economic Modern Capitalism Oppression Exploitation Political Oppression

Book:Living My Life (Two Volumes in One)

Source: Living My Life (Two Volumes in One)

“People get used to anything. The less you think about your oppression, the more your tolerance for it grows. After a while, people just think oppression is the normal state of things. But to become free, you have to be acutely aware of being a slave.”

People Thinking States Used Grows Normal Slave Tolerance Oppression

Book:Assata: An Autobiography

Source: Assata: An Autobiography

“In the real world, equal respect for all cultures doesn't translate into a rich mosaic of colorful and proud peoples interacting peacefully while maintaining a delightful diversity of food and craftwork. It translates into closed pockets of oppression, ignorance, and abuse.”

Source: Nomad: From Islam to America: A Personal Journey Through the Clash of Civilizations

“Feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression.”

Ends Feminism Movement Oppression Sexism Exploitation Sexist

Author:Bell Hooks

“Calvin: Somewhere in Communist Russia, I'll bet there's a little boy who has never known anything but censorship and oppression. But maybe he's heard of America, and he dreams of living in this land of freedom and opportunity! Someday, I'd like to meet that little boy... and tell him the awful TRUTH ABOUT THIS PLACE!! Calvin's Dad: Calvin, be quiet and eat the stupid Lima beans.”

Littles Dream America Opportunity Known Boys Heard Land Stupid Dad Quiet Russia Oppression Awful Someday Communist Censorship Beans Little Boys

Author:Bill Watterson

“Sometimes, people call my way of speaking ranting. Why are you always ranting and screaming, they ask. But here’s the thing…the reason why I rant is because I am a voice for many women that cannot speak out to heads of state, UN officials, and those that influence systems of oppression. And so I rant. And I will not stop ranting until my mission of equality of all girls is achieved.”

People Way Sometimes States Reason Girl Asks Speak Voice Influence Missions Oppression My Way Reason Why Officials Speaks Out Rant Head Of State

Author:Leymah Gbowee

“Millions of couples out there practiced the art of sadomasochism every day, without even realizing it. They went to work, came back, complained about everything, insulted their wife or were insulted by her, felt wretched, but were, nonetheless, tightly bound to their own unhappiness, not realizing that all it would take was a single gesture, a final goodbye, to free them from that oppression.”

Art Felt Realizing Millions Wife Couple Finals Bounds Oppression Goodbye Unhappiness Gestures Wretched Insulted

Author:Paulo Coelho

“At the Carter Center we work with victims of oppression, and we give support to human rights heroes.”

Giving Humans Support Rights Hero Victim Human Rights Oppression Carter

Author:Jimmy Carter

“Dehumanization, although a concrete historical fact, is not a given destiny but the result of an unjust order that engenders violence in the oppressors, which in turn dehumanizes the oppressed”

Facts Order Turns Given Results Destiny Violence Historical Oppression Concrete Oppressed Unjust Oppressors Pedagogy Dehumanization Historical Facts Pedagogy Of The Oppressed

Book:Pedagogy of the Oppressed: 30th Anniversary Edition

Source: Pedagogy of the Oppressed: 30th Anniversary Edition

“It is from the numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal or acts to improve the lot of others or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

Men Humans Different Time Hope Politics Belief Energy Peace Change Justice History Millions Courage Rights This World Wall Ideals Social Justice Injustice Human Rights Currents Strikes Improvement Tiny Helping Others Resistance Oppression Making A Difference Daring Diverse Volunteer Human Spirit Historic World History Human History Black History Crossings Have Courage Ripple Great War Caring For Others Peace And Justice Helping Each Other Being At Peace Peace Justice Black History Month Inspirational Military Giving To Charity Charity And Giving Inspirational Charity Black History Month Inspirational Giving To Others Acts Of Courage Social Injustice Law And Justice Self Giving Philanthropy Giving Justice And Injustice You Can Make A Difference One Person Can Make A Difference Philanthropy Inspiration Acts Of Charity Center Of The World Injustice And Oppression Peace With Others Volunteer Appreciation Justice Equality Volunteers Making A Difference Inspiring Volunteer Hope Courage Daring To Be Great Injustice In The World Acts Of Heroism Heroic Acts

Book:Make Gentle the Life of the World: The Vision of Robert F. Kennedy

Source: Make Gentle the Life of the World: The Vision of Robert F. Kennedy

“It is evil things that we will be fighting against-brute force, bad faith, injustice, oppression and persecution-and against them I am certain that the right will prevail.”

Certain Fighting Evil Force History Injustice Oppression Persecution Brutes World War 2 Brute Force Evil Things

Book:The Neville Chamberlain Diary Letters: The Downing Street years, 1934-1940

Source: The Neville Chamberlain Diary Letters: The Downing Street years, 1934-1940

“Freedom is never granted. It is earned by each generation... In the face of tyranny, cruelty, oppression, extremism, sometimes there is only one choice. When the world looks to America, America looks to you, and you never let her down.”

World Looks Sometimes America Faces Choices Generations Tyranny Cruelty Oppression Granted Patriotism Patriotic Extremism Inspirational Patriotic

Author:Hillary Clinton

“History has a long-range perspective. It ultimately passes stern judgment on tyrants and vindicates those who fought, suffered, were imprisoned, and died for human freedom, against political oppression and economic slavery.”

Source: Labor's Own William Z. Foster: A Communist's Fifty Years of Working-class Leadership and Struggle

“We have learned that change cannot come through war. War is not a feasible tool to use in fighting against the oppression we face. War has caused more problems. We cannot embrace that path.”

War Use Problem Faces Fighting Peace Path Tools Embrace Oppression Anti War

Author:Rigoberta Menchu

“A people armed and free, forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition and is a bulwark for the nation against foreign invasion and domestic oppression.”

People Form Nations Peace Strength Ambition Historical Oppression Enterprise Barriers Invasion Self Defense

Author:James Madison

“It is an unfortunate personal tragedy. However, when compared to the vast ocean of the collective tragedy faced by my people, my illness is merely a pebble. I am deeply sad that I am crippled by this illness, unable to contribute anything substantial towards the alleviation of the immense suffering and oppression of my people.”

People Suffering Sadness Ocean Tragedy Illness Oppression Collectives Immense Unfortunate Pebbles Crippled Vast Ocean Personal Tragedy

Author:Anton Balasingham

“As much as the world has an instinct for evil and is a breeding ground for genocide, holocaust, slavery, racism, war, oppression, and injustice, the world has an even greateer instinct for goodness, rebirth, mercy, beauty, truth, freedom and love.”

World War Evil Goodness Racism Mercy And Love Slavery Dance Instinct Injustice Oppression Genocide Holocaust Rebirth Breeding Love And Freedom

Author:Desmond Tutu

“All human beings have a right, and duty, to be joyful. Anything that thwarts this spiritual human right goes against the very purpose of human being. Spirituality mandates us to wage a relentless war to eradicate these forces of oppression and disempowerment.”

Humans War God Spiritual Purpose Spirituality Force Human Beings Duty Oppression Empowering Joyful Relentless Mandates Spiritual Beings Disempowerment

Author:Agnivesh

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore, send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”

“The same state of the passions which fits the multitude, who have not a sufficient stock of reason and knowledge to guide them, for opposition to tyranny and oppression, very naturally leads them to a contempt and disregard of all authority.”

States Reason Passion Human Nature Fit Authority Guides Tyranny Oppression Sufficient Opposition Contempt Multitudes Disregard

Book:Citizen Hamilton: The Wit and Wisdom of an American Founder

Source: Citizen Hamilton: The Wit and Wisdom of an American Founder

“Ours is an age in which thousands are driven daily from their homelands by the unforgiving brutalities of war, terrorism, political oppression, starvation, disease, economic piracy, and the relentless suffocation of that singular breath which makes human beings individuals.”

“The air of England is too pure for a slave to breathe, and so everyone who breathes it becomes free. Everyone who comes to this island is entitled to the protection of English law, whatever oppression he may have suffered and whatever may be the colour of his skin.”

May War Law Air Pure Skins England Slave Protection Breathe Oppression Islands Colour Entitled English Law

Author:William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield

“It equally proves, that though individual oppression may now and then proceed from the courts of justice, the general liberty of the people can never be endangered from that quarter; I mean so long as the judiciary remains truly distinct from both the legislature and the Executive. For I agree, that "there is no liberty, if the power of judging be not separated from the legislative and executive powers." And it proves, in the last place, that as liberty can have nothing to fear from the judiciary alone, but would have every thing to fear from its union with either of the other departments.”

Source: The Federalist Papers: A Collection of Essays Written in Favour of the New Constitution

“One of the most fashionable notions of our times is that social problems like poverty and oppression breed wars. Most wars, however, are started by well-fed people with the time on their hands to dream up half-baked ideologies or grandiose ambitions, and to nurse real or imagined grievances.”

People Wells War Real Problem Dream Hands Social Half Liberty Poverty Ambition Notion Oppression Ideology Our Time Feds Nurse Fashionable Grievance Social Problems Grandiose

Book:Controversial Essays

Source: Controversial Essays

“Government is the assumption of authority over a given area and all within it, exercised generally for the double purpose of more complete oppression of its subjects and extension of its boundaries.”

Government Purpose Given Liberty Subjects Authority Areas Boundaries Oppression Assumption Extensions

Book:Instead of a Book

Source: Instead of a Book

“Each time a man stands up for an ideal or acts to improve the lot of others or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope.”

Men Inspirational Motivational Success Law Hope Peace Change Justice Courage Rights This World Politician Ideals Social Justice Charity Injustice Human Rights Strikes Lawyer Tiny Oppression Changing The World Making A Difference Daring Diverse Senators Volunteer Improving Human Spirit World History Peace War Ripple Peace And Justice Volunteerism Positive Change Helping Each Other Peace Justice Human Freedom Black History Month Charity And Giving Words Of Kindness Giving To Others Acts Of Courage Social Injustice Law And Justice Never Lose Hope Philanthropy Giving Justice And Injustice Philanthropy Inspiration Acts Of Charity Ideal Man Injustice And Oppression Volunteerism And Service Peace With Others Legal Rights Volunteer Appreciation Human Equality Justice Equality Volunteers Making A Difference Inspiring Volunteer Hope Courage Daring To Be Great Injustice In The World Acts Of Heroism Heroic Acts Unpopular Decisions

Book:Make Gentle the Life of the World: The Vision of Robert F. Kennedy

Source: Make Gentle the Life of the World: The Vision of Robert F. Kennedy

“Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, . . . neither persons nor property will be safe.”

“Speaking like this doesn't mean that we're anti-white, but it does mean we're anti-exploitation, we're anti-degradation, we're anti-oppression.”

Mean Doe Justice White Diversity Social Justice Oppression Exploitation Degradation

Author:Malcolm X

“True religion is a revolutionary force: it is an inveterate enemy of oppression, privilege, and injustice.”

Force Justice Enemy Diversity Social Justice Injustice Privilege Oppression Revolutionary True Religion

Author:Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

“My father was a slave and my people died to build this country and I am going to stay here and have a part of it just like you.”

“We must remember that any oppression, any injustice, any hatred, is a wedge designed to attack our civilization.”

Remember Justice Civilization Diversity Hatred Social Justice Injustice Oppression Wedges Injustice And Oppression

Author:Franklin D. Roosevelt

“Where today are the Pequot? Where are the Narragansett, the Mohican, the Pcanet, and other powerful tribes of our people? They have vanished before the avarice and oppression of the white man, as snow before the summer sun.”

“Let us never cease to feel compassion for those in want. Let us never tire of helping victims of injustice and oppression. He who puts his faith in the restoration of human dignity cannot be wrong.”

Want Feels Humans Helping Justice Compassion Dignity Victim Injustice Cease Oppression Tire Restoration Human Dignity Injustice And Oppression

Author:Poul Hartling

“The right of revolution is an inherent one. When people are oppressed by their government, it is a natural right they enjoy to relieve themselves of oppression, if they are strong enough, whether by withdrawal from it, or by overthrowing it and substituting a government more acceptable.”

People Ifs Enough Government Strong Enjoy Natural Liberty Revolution Libertarian Oppression Civil War Patriotic Grants Acceptable Inherent Oppressed Strong Enough Withdrawal

Author:Ulysses S. Grant

“Close investigation will show that the primary cause of oppression and injustice, of unrighteousness, irregularity and disorder, is the people's lack of religious faith and the fact that they are uneducated.”

People Facts Shows Causes Religious Injustice Educational Oppression Primaries Disorder Investigation Religious Faith Uneducated Irregularity Unrighteousness

Author:Abdu'l-Bahá

“The parent-child relationship in the home usually reflects the objective cultural conditions of the surrounding social structure. If the conditions which penetrate the home are authoritarian, rigid, and dominating, the home will increase the climate of oppression. As these authoritarian relations between parents and children intensify, children in their infancy increasingly internalize the paternal authority.”

Source: Pedagogy of the Oppressed: 30th Anniversary Edition

“When fanatics are on top there is no limit to oppression.”

War Peace Limits Oppression Anti War Antiwar Humane Fanatics

Author:H. L. Mencken

“The moment we choose to love we begin to move against domination, against oppression. The moment we choose to love we begin to move towards freedom, to act in ways that liberate ourselves and others.”

Way Love Moments Moving Love You Oppression Domination

Book:Outlaw Culture: Resisting Representations

Source: Outlaw Culture: Resisting Representations

“The Islamic teachings have left great traditions for equitable and gentle dealings and behavior, and inspire people with nobility and tolerance. These are human teachings of the highest order and at the same time practicable. These teachings brought into existence a society in which hard-heartedness and collective oppression and injustice were the least as compared with all other societies preceding it....Islam is replete with gentleness, courtesy, and fraternity.”

“Wars are bred by poverty and oppression. Continued peace is possible only in a relatively free and prosperous world.”

World War Poverty Prosperity Oppression Prosperous Ending Poverty Root Cause World Poverty War On Poverty

Author:George C. Marshall

“Terrorism isn't insanity. It grows out of social conditions that are well known: poverty, social oppression, dictatorship, and a void of meaning in the lives of ordinary people.”

People Life Wells Social Grows Known Poverty Conditions Ordinary Terrorism Oppression Insanity Void Dictatorship Well Known Ordinary People Social Conditions

Author:Deepak Chopra

“If one holds these high principles clearly before one's eyes, and compares them with the life and spirit of our times, then it appears glaringly that civilized mankind finds itself at present in grave danger. In the totalitarian states it is the rulers themselves who strive actually to destroy that spirit of humanity. In less threatened parts it is nationalism and intolerance, as well as the oppression of the individuals by economic means, which threaten to choke these most precious traditions.”

Source: Out of My Later Years: The Scientist, Philosopher, and Man Portrayed Through His Own Words

“Laws just or unjust may govern men's actions. Tyrannies may restrain or regulate their words. The machinery of propaganda may pack their minds with falsehood and deny them truth for many generations of time. But the soul of man thus held in trance or frozen in a long night can be awakened by a spark coming from God knows where and in a moment the whole structure of lies and oppression is on trial for its life.”

Source: Churchill: The Power of Words

“Government being, among other purposes, instituted to protect the consciences of men from oppression, it certainly is the duty of Rulers, not only to abstain from it themselves, but according to their stations, to prevent it in others.”

Men Government Purpose Atheism Duty Protect Conscience Oppression Stations Rulers

Book:The Writings of George Washington: Being His Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers, Official and Private, Selected and Published from the Original Manuscripts; with a Life of the Author, Notes, and Illustrations

Source: The Writings of George Washington: Being His Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers, Official and Private, Selected and Published from the Original Manuscripts; with a Life of the Author, Notes, and Illustrations

“Urge all of your men to pray, not alone in church, but everywhere. Pray when driving. Pray when fighting. Pray alone. Pray with others. Pray by night and pray by day. Pray for the cessation of immoderate rains, for good weather for Battle.Pray for the defeat of our wicked enemy whose banner is injustice and whose good is oppression. Pray for victory. Pray for our Army, and Pray for Peace. We must march together, all out for God.”