Human rights did not begin with the French Revolution...[they] really stem from a mixture of Judaism and Christianity...[we English] had 1688, our quiet revolution, where Parliament exerted its will over the King...it was not the sort of Revolution that France's was...'Liberty, equality, fraternity' - they forgot obligations and duties I think. And then of course the fraternity went missing for a long time.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Thatcher traces human rights to Judeo-Christian roots and a constitutional revolution, criticizing French revolutionary ideals for ignoring duty.
- In plain terms
- Rights come from religion and history, not just freedom slogans.
- What can you take from it?
- Rights include duties, not just freedoms.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Where do rights come from?
- Should rights include duties?
Another view
This view may oversimplify diverse origins of human rights.
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