You can't disobey the rules every time you disapprove. However, when you're considering something that constitutes an extreme abridgement of your rights, conscience is the court of last resort.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the importance of standing up against unjust rules while acknowledging the need to obey laws that may not seem fair.
Mario Savio's quote captures the tension between following societal rules and the moral obligation to resist when those rules infringe upon fundamental rights. It asserts that while one should generally adhere to the established norms, there are critical moments when personal conscience must take precedence, especially regarding significant violations of justice or individual rights.
In practice
In a speech advocating for civil rights, one could reference this quote to inspire action against unjust laws.
The 'futures' and 'careers' for which American students now prepare are for the most part intellectual and moral wastelands. This chrome-plated consumers' paradise would have us grow up to be well-behaved children. But an important minority of men and women coming to the front today have shown they will die rather than be standardized, replaceable, and irrelevant.
If I had not felt certain that every additional trial was ordered by infinite love and mercy, I could not have survived my accumulated suffering.
Every human being on this planet has their pain and their heartache and it's up to all of us to find our way back to the light.
It's very hard to turn your back once you're aware of what's going on, and you're aware of the injustices, and you're aware of the civilian casualties. It's much easier if you have no idea and you've never seen it.
Armed Soldier, terrible as Death, relentless as Doom; doing God's judgement on the Enemies of God. It is a phenomenon not of joyful nature; no, but of awful, to be looked at with pious terror and awe.
Violence ravaged my life. I was a victim of hatred, and I have dedicated my life to reversing that hatred.
Once we know of atrocities we cannot remain silent, and knowledge inevitably leads to an urge to protect the innocent.
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