Accuracy Quote by Andrew Sullivan
“The one thing we know about torture is that it was never designed in the first place to get at the actual truth of anything; it was designed in the darkest days of human history to produce false confessions in order to annihilate political and religious dissidents. And that is how it always works: it gets confessions regardless of their accuracy.”
About This Quote
Source Article: The Politics of Torture, 2005
Torture was created not to uncover truth but to force false confessions, targeting political and religious dissidents, and it reliably yields inaccurate admissions.
In simple terms: Torture produces unreliable confessions, not truth.
Key Takeaway
Reject torture as a tool for truth.
Themes
human rights
politics
ethics
Mood
outraged
determined
Type
activist
analytical
When to use this quote
- legal reform
- humanitarian advocacy
- education programs
Key Concepts
coercion
false confessions
state violence
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do false confessions persist?
- What alternatives protect truth and rights?
A Different Perspective
Some claim torture can be effective.
