It’s 2020, and you’re sure to have a few resolutions written down. Or if you’re not into resolutions, perhaps you have some goals, a list of things you’d like to accomplish this year but know it won’t be the end of the world if you don’t get around to them.
Maybe you’ve decided that 2020 is the year you’ll go vegan. There’s no better time to do this, but the task can be a little daunting, especially if you lack a proper support system. Sometimes you need a little motivation.
“My body will not be a tomb for other creatures.”
When Leonardo da Vinci said (or more likely wrote) this, he described what every single vegan feels. Truly, there is no better feeling than knowing that you are fueling yourself with life, not suffering and death. How can you truly live as ethical of life as possible when your body is in essence a cemetery for all of the slaughtered animals you have eaten.
“People who think vegans only eat salad are the same people who think the only furniture you can have sex on is a bed.”
Veganism isn’t all dark and depressing, as this quote from Nick Squires shows. We have a sense of humor after all! Never forget that vegan food is about more than just salad and smoothies. Eat those Oreos! Get some vegan chicken nuggets! Do what you want, just cause no harm.
“We all love animals. Why do we call some ‘pets’ and others ‘dinner’?”
Questions like this one posed by Kathryn Dawn Lang really make you think. Why do some animals get to be pets while others are nothing more than the sums of their parts slaughtered and cooked? When you say you love animals, think really hard: is it animals you love or is it pets? How you live your life – your food choices, your makeup choices, your clothing choices – shows the answer.
“Animals are my friends…and I don’t eat my friends.”
Playwright George Bernard Shaw really knew his stuff. He supposedly made the connection because he was a fan of Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, who has been considered the first celebrity vegan. Shelley even frequently wrote about his vegan tendencies. Aren’t writers cool?
“Why vegan? Because I am not so important that another living being should have to suffer or die for me.”
A lot of people seem to think vegans are just trying to prove that they’re better than their non-vegan counterparts, but that’s simply not true. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. As Cheryl Young points out, we are not so self-centered. We just want animals to be allowed to live in peace.
“When I see bacon, I see a pig, I see a little friend, and that’s why I can’t eat it. Simple as that.”
Paul McCartney is right: it is that simple. The meat on your plate was once alive. The milk in your cup was meant for a baby cow. The eggs in your skillet encourage the destruction of male chicks. Once you start making these connections and viewing all animals as a living being, it’s hard to go back.
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
Was Maya Angelou vegan? I don’t know, but her words here clearly can be applied to veganism and animal rights. Once you know the cruelty inflicted upon animals, whether it’s the suffering they face on farms or in labs, you should be trying to do better. There is always room for improvement, there is always something you can be doing better. Once you know, you should start trying.
“We cannot eat dead food and feel alive.”
Dresden Danielle hit the nail on the head with this one. How can we possibly feel good when our bodies are filled with suffering and death? It is no wonder so many people feel so bad all of the time. A weight is lifted once you no longer have to carry the guilt that comes with consuming animal products.
“Veganism is not about giving anything up or losing anything; it is about gaining peace within yourself that comes from embracing nonviolence and refusing to participate in the exploitation of the vulnerable.”
Gary L. Fracione is known as a pioneer of the abolitionist theory of animal rights, and when he drops truths like the above quote, it’s easy to understand his arguments. Veganism is absolutely not a sacrifice – not if you’re in it for the animals.
“Don’t ask me why I’m vegan. Ask yourself why you’re not.”
Whoever first said this is a very wise person. After all, there is a reason it’s so often quoted on artwork, t-shirts, hoodies, and more. It really speaks to the heart of the issue. At its core, veganism is a moral issue. We’re vegan because we don’t want to harm animals. What’s not to get? What is more difficult to understand is why someone would have a problem with that.
Is there a certain vegan quote that you live by? Or a certain vegan that really inspires you?
Psst…are you a vegan brand/business? Are you in need of a writer who can capture your brand’s voice and create content sure to resonate with your audience? If you answered “yes,” let’s talk! I’ll help you reach your ideal audience through the power of words.
Tessa Altman 
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