Which phrase from the Declaration of Independence is especially associated with its natural-rights argument?

“Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” is the phrase from the Declaration of Independence especially associated with its natural-rights argument.

The words appear in the second paragraph, which presents certain rights as self-evident and describes government as existing to secure them. The passage says that people are created equal and possess unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Thomas Jefferson’s wording drew on Enlightenment ideas, including arguments about natural rights and the purpose of government. The Declaration does not function as a constitution or establish a detailed system of government; instead, it explains why the colonies claimed the right to separate from Britain.

The phrase is sometimes misquoted as “life, liberty and happiness.” The exact wording includes “the pursuit of happiness.” America250 highlights the Declaration’s continuing influence, and this compact phrase is among its most recognizable expressions.