Pope John XXIII Quotes

The modern state no longer has anything but rights; it does not recognize duties any more.

Human rights are praised more than ever - and violated as much as ever.

The respect for human rights is nowadays not so much a matter of having international standards, but rather questions of compliance with those standards.

Human rights is a universal standard. It is a component of every religion and every civilization.

Every human being, including those who belong to the enemy, have rights.

It does not matter what country we live in, who our leaders are, or even who we are. Because we are human, we therefore have rights. And because we have rights, governments are bound to protect them.

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

The whole human rights structure is based on the accountability of governments.

Freedom means the supremacy of human rights everywhere.

The idea of "human rights," for example - sometimes it bothers me. Not in itself, but because the concept of human rights has replaced the much grander idea of justice.

So on this Human Rights Day, let us rededicate ourselves to the advancement of human rights and freedoms for all, and pledge always to live by the ideals we promote to the world.

Human rights are inscribed in the hearts of people; they were there long before lawmakers drafted their first proclamation.

Any country if you go really, really in depth somewhere, the human rights are not totally respected.

I am willing to take any measures when it comes to the fundamental principle of human rights.

No practice or tradition trumps the human rights that belong to all of us.

The Constitution has a good share of deliberately open-ended guarantees, like rights to due process of law, equal protection of the law, and freedom from unreasonable searches.

There is no room for legal hair-splitting when it comes to the humane treatment of detainees - not in a nation founded on the rule of law and respect for human rights.

The global response to global terrorism must not endanger fundamental human rights and freedoms.

No references to the need to fight terror can be an argument for restricting human rights.

The right to life is guaranteed to all Americans in the Declaration of Independence, and ensuring this is upheld is the Constitutional duty of all members of Congress.

The basic guarantees of our Constitution are warrants for the here and now, and unless there is an overwhelmingly compelling reason, they are to be promptly fulfilled.

The quest for freedom, dignity, and the rights of man will never end.

A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular; and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inferences.

Freedom of speech, freedom to criticize pillars of government, freedom to form parties and freedom of the press within the framework of the constitution are among the absolute rights of the public.

The United Nations is an organization of sovereign states, but the rights that it upholds belong to individuals.