Rights are always asserted in a tone of contention; and when this tone is adopted, it must rely upon force in the background, or else it will be laughed at. [p.61]
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Asserting rights often involves conflict and relies on underlying power to be taken seriously.
- In plain terms
- Rights claims sound like arguments and need force behind them to work.
- What can you take from it?
- Power supports rights claims in practice.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What makes a right valid without power?
- How much force is too much?
Another view
Rights can be asserted through moral persuasion without force.
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