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.

Equal worth is a starting point rather than a conclusion, something that does not have to be argued into existence or earned by achievement. Rights that cannot be taken away are rights nobody handed out in the first place, which means no authority gets to decide who qualifies. The pursuit of happiness sits alongside life and liberty, not beneath them.

Look for the places where you quietly rank people by usefulness, and notice how differently you speak to someone you think you need. This week, treat one person’s dignity as settled before they have proved anything to you.