Even granting that we [humans] face greater harm than laboratory animals presently endure if ... research on these animals is stopped, the animal rights view will not be satisfied with anything less than total abolition. Tom Regan More Quotes by Tom Regan More Quotes From Tom Regan Being kind to animals is not enough. Avoiding cruelty is not enough. Housing animals in more comfortable, larger cages is not enough. Whether we exploit animals to eat, to wear, to entertain us, or to learn, the truth of animal rights requires empty cages, not larger cages. Tom Regan learning rights animal It is not an act of kindness to treat animals respectfully. It is an act of justice. Tom Regan kindness justice animal The other animals humans eat, use in science, hunt, trap, and exploit in a variety of ways, have a life of their own that is of importance to them apart from their utility to us. They are not only in the world, they are aware of it. What happens to them matters to them. Each has a life that fares better or worse for the one whose life it is. Tom Regan nature animal life To be 'for animals' is not to be 'against humanity.' To require others to treat animals justly, as their rights require, is not to ask for anything more nor less in their case than in the case of any human to whom just treatment is due. The animal rights movement is a part of, not opposed to, the human rights movement. Attempts to dismiss it as anti human are mere rhetoric. Tom Regan humanity rights animal Veganism affirms what is best for us, what is best for the animals, and what is best for the environment. Everywhere you look, you find veganism entwined with what is best. Tom Regan environment animal looks It is not larger, cleaner cages that justice demands...but empty cages; not traditional animal agriculture but a complete end to all commerce in the flesh of dead animals; not more humane hunting and trapping, but the total eradication of these barbarous practices. Tom Regan hunting practice animal All great movements, it is written, go through three stages: ridicule, discussion, adoption. It is the realisation of this third stage, adoption, that requires our passion and our discipline, our hearts and our heads. The fate of animals is in our hands. Tom Regan fate passion heart What could be the basis of our having more inherent value than animals? Their lack of reason, or autonomy, or intellect? Only if we are willing to make the same judgment in the case of humans who are similarly deficient. Tom Regan judgment reason animal If abandoning animal research means that there are some things we cannot learn, then so be it ... We have no basic right ... not to be harmed by those natural diseases we are heir to. Tom Regan disease animal mean In a perfect world, we would not keep animals for our benefit, including pets. Tom Regan pet perfect animal If you were aboard a lifeboat with a baby and a dog, and the boat capsized, would you rescue the baby or the dog?" Regan, "If it were a retarded baby and a bright dog, I'd save the dog. Tom Regan dog animal baby I would encourage them never to forget that they were not always vegans. The self-righteousness of the recently converted hurts, it does not help, other animals. Tom Regan helping-others hurt animal Live your life in ways that do not support wars, whosoever are the victims. Tom Regan live-your-life support war The world is not going to change overnight, nor in my lifetime, nor in my grandchildren's lifetime. But it will change, if we change, not for a day or a year, but for a lifetime. Yes, it will change, if we change. Tom Regan grandchildren world years If it were a retarded baby and a bright dog, I'd save the dog. Tom Regan retarded dog baby The culture isn't set up to embrace what we think and feel. Any doubt about that, just watch the ads on TV. They tell you where the dominant culture's values are - and they're not vegan! Tom Regan doubt watches thinking When I say a vegan diet can be "the healthiest dietary option we can live by," I mean an informed vegan diet. Tom Regan vegan live-by mean Never give other people another reason to ignore other animals. That's what we do when we come across as being so much better than the next guy or gal. Tom Regan animal giving people Make vegan friends! It's a tough row to hoe doing it alone. Tom Regan hoe vegan tough There is no question in my mind: reading Gandhi's autobiography changed my life. Tom Regan changed reading mind
