Colleen Patrick-Goudreau Quotes

That is the ultimate question for all of us: do our actions reflect our values? Do our traditions reflect our beliefs? Do our purchases reflect our ethics? After all, what's the point in having values if we don't manifest them in our behavior?

Sanctuaries are magical places – dare I say holy?

It's a pretty amazing to wake up every morning, knowing that every decision I make is to cause as little harm as possible. It's a pretty fantastic way to live.

My hope is that we can navigate through this world and our lives with the grace and integrity of those who need our protection. May we have the sense of humor and liveliness of the goats; may we have the maternal instincts and protective nature of the hens and the sassiness of the roosters. May we have the gentleness and strength of the cattle, and the wisdom, humility, and serenity of the donkeys. May we appreciate the need for community as do the sheep and choose our companion as carefully as do the rabbits. May we have the faithfulness and commitment to family as the geese, and adaptability and affability of the ducks. May we have the intelligence, loyalty, and affection of the pigs and the inquisitiveness, sensitivity, and playfulness of the turkeys.
My hope is that we learn from the animals what it is we need to become better people.

How often do we talk just to fill up the quiet space? How often do we waste our breath talking about nonsense?

Choosing to laugh doesn't undermine the serious work we have to do. It enables us to do it.

What's the point of having beliefs and values if we don't stand up for the former and live by the latter?

It is not how we breed, keep and kill animals for human consumption that has been the impetus for vegetarianism for thousands of years. It is that we breed, keep and kill animals for human consumption. Throughout the centuries the common thread in the arguments against eating animals is the fact that since we have no nutritional requirement for the flesh or fluids of animals, killing them to simply satisfy our taste-buds or habits or customs amounts to senseless slaughter, and senseless slaughter is no small thing.

Don't do nothing because you can't do everything. Do something!

There is a stereotype that vegans talk about being vegan all the time. The irony is, once people find out I'm vegan, I quickly become their confessor, counselor, and sounding board.

[Our world] seeks to encourage empathy, kindness, and compassion in children but seems suspicious of these same values in adults.

Feeling anger is necessary; it's what we do with anger that will make or break us.

One life matters - especially to the one whose life it is.

Closing our eyes doesn't make violence disappear; it only closes our minds and hearts and enables the violence to continue.

The phytochemicals, antioxidants, and fiber- all of the healthful components of plant foods- originate in plants, not animals. If they are present, it is because the animal ate plants. And why should we go through an animal to get the benefits of the plants themselves? To consume unnecessary, unseemly, and unhealthy substances, such as saturated fat, animal protein, lactose, and dietary cholesterol, is to negate the benefits of the fiber, phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are prevalent and inherent in plants.

We don't "crave" animal-based meat, dairy, and eggs, but we do crave fat, salt, flavor, texture, and familiarity.