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At the heart of liberty is the right to define one's own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of human life:. [P]eople have organized intimate relationships and made choices that define their views of themselves and their places in society, in reliance on the availability of abortion in the event that contraception should fail:. We conclude the line should be drawn at viability, so that, before that time, the woman has a right to choose to terminate her pregnancy:. [T]here is no line other than viability which is more workable. To be sure, as we have said, there may be some medical developments that affect the precise point of viability, but this is an imprecision within tolerable limits.... A husband has no enforceable right to require a wife to advise him before she exercises her personal choices.

Anthony Kennedy#6

AbortionHuman rightsMarriage

About this quote

What does it mean?
Liberty includes the right to define one's own existence and to make personal choices, such as abortion, without a husband's enforceable control.
In plain terms
Freedom means deciding your own life and body without a spouse’s authority.
What can you take from it?
Personal autonomy should be protected in matters of bodily choice.

Where it applies

  • debates on abortion law
  • marital disputes over reproductive decisions

Putting it to work

  • uphold viability standards
  • ensure privacy of medical choices

Questions to consider

  • How should law balance evolving medical definitions with personal rights?
  • What limits, if any, should exist on a spouse’s influence?

Another view

The argument assumes a consensus on viability that may shift with medical advances.

More from Anthony Kennedy

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  3. The First Amendment is often inconvenient. But that is beside the point. Inconvenience does not absolve the government of its obligation to tolerate speech.

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