Peter Singer

“Speciesism... is a prejudice or attitude of bias in favor of the interests of members of one's own species and against those of members of other species.”

“The notion that human life is sacred just because it is human is medieval.”

“To be a utilitarian means that you judge actions as right or wrong in accordance with their consequences.”

“I don't think there's a sharp line between humans and the rest of the animal kingdom. It's a blur.”

“If it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening, without thereby sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought, morally, to do it.”

“All the arguments to prove man's superiority cannot shatter this hard fact: in suffering the animals are our equals.”

“Living a minimally acceptable ethical life involves using a substantial part of our spare resources to make the world a better place.”

“The only justifiable stopping place for the expansion of altruism is the point at which all whose welfare can be affected by our actions are included within the circle of altruism.”

“Effective altruism is about asking 'How can I make the biggest difference?' and using evidence and careful reasoning to try to find an answer.”

“We are responsible not only for what we do but also for what we could have prevented.”

“The principle of the equality of human beings is not a description of an alleged actual equality among humans: it is a prescription of how we should treat human beings.”

“If a being suffers, there can be no moral justification for refusing to take that suffering into consideration.”

“When we buy new clothes not to keep ourselves warm but to look good, we are not providing for any important need.”

“Charity is a poor substitute for justice.”

“The point of studying ethics is not to find a summary of the conventional wisdom, but to question it.”