I think if you're against cruelty and you look at what happens to animals in slaughterhouses and on factory farms, you have to be completely against eating meat.
Ingrid NewkirkRead
[I believe] that animals have a worth in and of themselves, and that they are not inferior to human beings but rather just different from us, and that they really don't exist for us nor do they belong to us...it should not be a question of how they should be treated within the context of their usefulness, or perceived usefulness, to us, but rather whether we have a right to use them at all.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the intrinsic value of animals, advocating for their treatment beyond human utility.
In this quote, Ingrid Newkirk expresses the belief that animals possess their own inherent worth, separate from their usefulness to humans. She argues that we must consider not just how we use and treat them, but also reflect on the moral implications of whether we have the right to use them at all, thereby prompting a reevaluation of our relationship with other species.
Themes
AnimalsWorthRightsIntrinsic ValueTreatment
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about animal rights, you could cite this quote to emphasize the importance of recognizing the inherent dignity of all living beings.
More from Ingrid Newkirk
All quotes →It is only human supremacy, which is as unacceptable as racism and sexism, that makes us afraid of being more inclusive.
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