Top 10 Best Quotes On Human Rights

We all have the right to live our lives the way we choose. We are entitled to the freedom to express ourselves, practice our faiths and beliefs, and pursue our passions without fear of persecution or discrimination. 

Human Rights are the basic rights and freedoms that all people, regardless of their ethnicity, color, gender, religion, etc., should be able to enjoy. Human Rights include civil liberties such as freedom of expression and assembly; economic and social rights such as access to health care and education; and collective rights like the right to a healthy environment. 

The Top 10s Only team is proud to do our bit in reminding you of the importance of human rights, to help uphold their value, and to carry it forward by sharing some of the most powerfully inspiring quotes about Human Rights.

What’s Special About December 10th?

Human Rights must be equal and non-discriminatory. For eons, people have struggled to obtain equitable human rights so that they can live with dignity and freedom from fear and persecution. Innumerable Human Rights campaigners have been imprisoned, tortured, and even killed for being vocal against the infringement of the basic concepts of Human Rights.

The need for a universal framework protecting people’s fundamental human rights gave rise to the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948. Every year on 10th December, we commemorate this important milestone in human history by celebrating it as Human Rights Day. This is a reminder that everyone is entitled to their fundamental human rights and should be able to enjoy them without discrimination or prejudice. This is an opportunity to celebrate the progress made in protecting and promoting human rights around the world.

Top 10 Best Quotes On Human Rights

Inspiring human rights campaign quotes can be a powerful source of motivation and education. Top 10s Only brings you some very famous and best quotes on human rights to help you ponder over the cause. By sharing these quotes, we hope to spread awareness of the importance of protecting basic freedoms and liberties around the world.

These are some of the best quotes about human rights, spoken or written by famous personalities who have dedicated themselves to preserving our human rights. These quotes and sayings are an eternal reminder that human rights are meant for all, regardless of where we come from. Remember to share these quotes on your social media handles to spread awareness about human rights issues.

1. “The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.” – John F. Kennedy

Let’s start with a quote about basic human rights that emphasizes the importance of being treated as equals. This inspirational quote was said by John F.  Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States of America. This powerful quote about human rights questions the silence of those who keep mum when the rights of another are curbed. It is not long before their rights are curbed as well, and this quote warns them of that.

2. “Freedom means the supremacy of human rights everywhere.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

This famous quote about universal human rights amplifies that human rights are for everyone with no regard for any differences. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was an active human rights campaigner and initiated several policies for the betterment of society. His famous Four Freedoms Speech initiated the idea of the four elemental freedoms for people around the world. These four crucial freedoms, freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear, have been included in the preamble of the UDHR. 

3. “There can be no peace without development, no development without peace, and no lasting peace or sustainable development without respect for human rights and the rule of law.” – Jan Eliasson

Peace and development are the core essences of human rights. Sustainable development is the promise of a healthy tomorrow. It is only through that we can ensure lasting peace. This quote that motivates the human rights movement reminds us of the interconnectedness of peace, development, and human rights. Sustainable development is important, and it must be achieved without resorting to exploitation. All countries have a responsibility to promote human rights and uphold the rule of law if they want their societies to thrive with both prosperity and stability. 

4. “To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.” – Nelson Mandela

When we think of all the struggles made to uphold human rights, the best quotes by Nelson Mandela come to mind. He was a world-renowned social rights activist who went on to become South Africa’s first black President. He stood up for what he believed in, no matter what the consequences. 

This quote serves to remind everyone that basic human rights are essential for protecting a person’s dignity. These basic rights are part and parcel of one’s life. When fundamental liberties like the right to education, speech, choice, etc., are stripped away, the very essence of life is curbed.

5. “A right delayed is a right denied.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

This quote on protecting fundamental human rights was said by one of the most prominent leaders of the civil rights movement, Martin Luther King Jr. 

This highly important quote emphasizes the importance of swiftness when it comes to granting people rights. A delay in granting justice is equal to denying justice and subsequently their rights. May this quote serve as a reminder that waiting too long for someone to receive their due can be just as damaging as outright denying them their rights.

6. “Human rights must work to uplift human dignity.” – Rodrigo Duterte 

The former President of the Philippines used this quote about human rights and dignity to amplify the need to elevate the status of individuals and improve their quality of life. He insisted on a world where human dignity was respected and uplifted. It is only through that we can attain the real meaning of human rights. The dignity of all persons, regardless of their background, must be valued and respected equally. Violation of it is a violation of human rights itself.

7. “Human rights are not a privilege granted by the few, they are a liberty entitled to all, and human rights, by definition, include the rights of all humans, those in the dawn of life, the dusk of life, or the shadows of life.” – Kay Granger

As rightfully pointed out by Congresswoman Ms. Kay Granger, human rights are not a privilege to be granted but a liberty entitled to all. This inspirational quote about human rights and equality is a reminder that human rights are for everyone and not just for the rich and mighty. Everyone has equal rights to human rights. Her quote emphasizes that human rights are meant for everyone from every walk of life. It is not a privilege to be granted to a few elite. No one has the right to curb it and withhold it as they please.

8. “Human rights are a universal standard. It is a component of every religion and every civilization.” – Shirin Ebadi

This is a powerfully inspiring quote by famous human rights activist Shirin Ebadi. It implies that human rights are meant to be universal in nature and is not a privilege granted to a chosen few. It is again not just for the elite class but for all. People must not be subjected to discrimination of any kind. It is for everyone, regardless of their social standing, skin color, religion, gender, race, or nationality.

9. “Human rights are not worthy of the name if they do not protect the people we don’t like as well as those we do.” – Trevor Phillips

This powerful quote about human rights may confuse you but think about it for a second. Human rights are not just for people we like. It must also equally protect those who we don’t. Human rights policies should not be applied selectively, as policymakers are not supposed to be partial to any particular group. For the progress of society, human rights must be equitably extended to everyone, regardless of their beliefs, opinions, or backgrounds.

10. “The struggle for human rights is, at its core, a struggle for human dignity.” – Kerry Kennedy

Last but not least, this quote about basic human rights shows its core value and why it is important to preserve it. Human dignity is something people have valued for generations, and losing it is like losing hope. Preserving the dignity of humanity is the core of human rights, as rightfully pointed out by Kerry Kennedy. The Human Rights struggle is ultimately about securing fundamental human dignity for all people, as it is part and parcel of human existence. The primary objective must always be to ensure the right of everyone to live free from discrimination and oppression.

These quotes and sayings about the importance of human rights serve as a reminder for us to uphold the values and struggles faced by those before us to bring us the freedom and dignity we enjoy today, no matter what race, gender, or religion we are from. Each of us has had someone in the past fighting for the freedom we enjoy today. 

Today there are still areas where people continue to fight for freedom and dignity. If you have your freedom, consider yourself blessed and speak up for those in need of your voice. Let us spread awareness with these quotes that motivate the human rights movement.

We hope you were inspired reading our list of best human rights quotes. Feel free to share them on your social media handles to spread awareness about human rights and their importance.

If you’re looking for more inspiring quotes, check out the powerfully inspiring ones in this recent article – Top 10 Happy International Daughter’s Day Quotes & Sayings.