If there be no right of rebellion against a state of things that no savage tribe would endure without resistance, then I am sure that it is better for men to fight and die without right than to live in such a state of right as this.
Interpretation
This quote conveys the idea that fighting against injustice, even if it leads to death, is preferable to living under unbearable conditions.
Roger Casement's quote expresses a powerful sentiment regarding the moral obligation to resist oppression and injustice. He emphasizes that if a situation is so intolerable that even the most primitive societies would reject it, then fighting against such conditions, even without a legitimate right, is more honorable than accepting a life of misery and subjugation. This reflects a deep understanding of human dignity and the necessity of standing up for one's beliefs.
In practice
This quote could be used in a speech at a human rights rally to inspire action against oppression.
There is one front and one battle where everyone in the United States-every man, woman, and child-is in action, and will be privileged to remain in action throughout this war. That front is right here at home, in our daily lives, and in our daily tasks.
It was only by luck and the blessings of God that my soldiers did not encounter an assault, that we did not run over an IED. And to dishonor our service by saying we're not worthy of being called combat veterans is insulting to the majority of men and women who serve their country honorably.
Courage is necessary to make being and becoming possible.
It was ability that mattered, not disability, which is a word I'm not crazy about using.
What hurts me most is poverty, and that's what led me to become a rebel.
I cannot surrender my principles, though the whole world besides should vote them down - I can make no compromise between truth and error, even though my life be the alternative.
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