When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one Person to dissolve the psychological bands which have subjugated her to others, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle her, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that she should declare the causes which impel her to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, boundaries are instituted around individuals, limiting the accepted behaviors of others, deriving their just powers from the respect of those boundaries of others, That whenever any person’s behavior becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the Recipient to require the alteration or abolishment of it, and to determine acceptable behavior and the consequence of noncompliance, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing her powers in such form, as to her shall seem most likely to effect her Safety and Happiness. Prudence and Politesse, indeed, will dictate that behaviors long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce her, it is her right, it is her duty, to throw off such behaviors or perpetrators of such behaviors, and to provide new Guards for her future security.
I, therefore, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of my intentions, do solemnly publish and declare, That this Woman is, and of Right ought to be, a Free and Independent Person; that she is Absolved from all subjugation of others, that all responsibilities toward the happiness of others, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as a Free and Independent Person, she has full Power to decide her own feelings and behaviors, to claim her rights to privacy and freedom from Manipulation, Insult, and Injury, the right to petition for Time Alone and moments in which to Meditate or Collect her Thoughts, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent People may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, I pledge to myself my life, Fortune, and on my sacred Honor pledge to respect of the above Rights of all others.
