All sentient beings should have at least one right—the right not to be treated as property Gary L. Francione More Quotes by Gary L. Francione More Quotes From Gary L. Francione Veganism is an act of nonviolent defiance. It is our statement that we reject the notion that animals are things and that we regard sentient nonhumans as moral persons with the fundamental moral right not to be treated as the property or resources of humans. Gary L. Francione moral fundamentals animal The idea that we have the right to inflict suffering and death on other sentient beings for the trivial reasons of palate pleasure and fashion is, without doubt, one of the most arrogant and morally repugnant notions in the history of human thought. Gary L. Francione fashion death ideas Veganism is not about giving anything up or losing anything; it is about gaining the peace within yourself that comes from embracing nonviolence and refusing to participate in the exploitation of the vulnerable Gary L. Francione vegetarian losing giving Being vegan is easy. Are there social pressures that encourage you to continue to eat, wear, and use animal products? Of course there are. But in a patriarchal, racist, homophobic, and ableist society, there are social pressures to participate and engage in sexism, racism, homophobia, and ableism. At some point, you have to decide who you are and what matters morally to you. And once you decide that you regard victimizing vulnerable nonhumans is not morally acceptable, it is easy to go and stay vegan Gary L. Francione what-matters racism animal Veganism is not a limitation in any way; it's an expansion of your love, your commitment to nonviolence, and your belief in justice for all. Gary L. Francione justice-for-all love-you commitment Michael Vick may enjoy watching dogs fight. Someone else may find that repulsive but see nothing wrong with eating an animal who has had a life as full of pain and suffering as the lives of the fighting dogs. It's strange that we regard the latter as morally different from, and superior to, the former. Gary L. Francione pain fighting dog You cannot live a nonviolent life as long as you are consuming violence. Please consider going vegan. Gary L. Francione vegan violence long We should take good care of the domestic animals we have brought into existence until they die. We should stop bringing more domestic animals into existence. Gary L. Francione care should animal There is nothing more 'elitist' than thinking our palate Gary L. Francione vegan suffering thinking Veganism is about nonviolence. It is about not engaging in harm to other sentient beings; to oneself; and to the environment upon which all beings depend for life. In my view, the animal rights movement is, at its core, a movement about ending violence to all sentient beings. It is a movement that seeks fundamental justice for all. It is an emerging peace movement that does not stop at the arbitrary line that separates humans from nonhumans. Gary L. Francione rights animal peace If you love animals but think that veganism is extreme, then you are confused about the meaning of love. Gary L. Francione confused animal thinking Welfare reforms and the whole “happy” exploitation movement are not “baby steps.” They are big steps–in a seriously backward direction. Gary L. Francione reform baby peace The proposition that humans have mental characteristics wholly absent in non-humans is inconsistent with the theory of evolution. Gary L. Francione theory-of-evolution mental-illness characteristics We cannot justify treating any sentient nonhuman as our property, as a resource, as a thing that we an use and kill for our purposes. Gary L. Francione resources purpose use Because animals are property, we consider as "humane treatment" that we would regard as torture if it were inflicted on humans. Gary L. Francione torture treatment animal Being vegan provides us with the peace of knowing that we are no longer participants in the hideous violence that is animal exploitation. Gary L. Francione violence knowing animal If we can live and prosper without killing, why would we not do so? I do not see veganism as 'extreme' in any way. I see killing for no reason as extreme in every way. Gary L. Francione killing reason way People need to be educated so that they can make intelligent moral choices Gary L. Francione intelligent choices people Ethical veganism represents a commitment to nonviolence. Gary L. Francione classism ethical commitment Any serious social, political, and economic change must include veganism. Gary L. Francione vegan political serious
