---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being on death row has taken so much from…"
description: "\"Being on death row has taken so much from me as a human being.\" — Anthony Ray Hinton"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/anthony-ray-hinton-9609_being_being-on-death-row-has-taken-so-much-fro_2840411.jpg"
---

#  Being on death row has taken so much from me as a human…

![“Being on death row has taken so much from me as a human being.” quote by Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/anthony-ray-hinton-9609_being_being-on-death-row-has-taken-so-much-fro_2840411.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/anthony-ray-hinton-9609_being_being-on-death-row-has-taken-so-much-fro_2840411.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/anthony-ray-hinton-9609_being_being-on-death-row-has-taken-so-much-fro_2840411.jpg)

> “Being on death row has taken so much from me as a human being.”

[Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Life on death row strips away humanity, exposing the profound loss of identity and dignity.

**In simple terms:** Death row erodes humanity.

Key Takeaway

Advocate for humane justice reform.

Themes

justice human rights dignity

Mood

somber urgent

Type

activist reflective

When to use this quote

- legal advocacy
- mental health support
- community education

Key Concepts

penal reform racial inequality

Questions to Reflect On

- What restores humanity in confinement?
- How can society prevent such loss?

A Different Perspective

Systemic change is slow and complex.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death row](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-row/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-being/) [Much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/much/) [Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison/) [Row Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/row-taken-3721568/) [Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken/) [Taken Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken-human-3721569/)

## Related quotes

> [I shouldn't have sat on death row 30 years. All they had to do was test the gun. But when you think you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/i-shouldn-t-have-sat-on-death-row-30-years-all-they-had-to-do-was/)

[Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

> [What kind of system do we have when innocent people can sit on death row for 30 years?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/what-kind-of-system-do-we-have-when-innocent-people-can-sit-on-death/)

[Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

> [The men on death row had been told the world would be better without them. I tried to say that this may not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/the-men-on-death-row-had-been-told-the-world-would-be-better-without/)

[Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

> [When you have a death row case, you have to make 100 percent sure you have the right person. But these DAs in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/when-you-have-a-death-row-case-you-have-to-make-100-percent-sure-you/)

[Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

> [Death row was the only place where I never witnessed racism. We all went to bed with a death sentence on our heads and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/death-row-was-the-only-place-where-i-never-witnessed-racism-we-all/)

[Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

> [I spent 30 years on Alabama's death row for a crime I did not commit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/i-spent-30-years-on-alabama-s-death-row-for-a-crime-i-did-not-commit/)

[Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

> [You get to know everyone on death row. You become friends with them and their families. I met some great guys. Everyone regrets what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/you-get-to-know-everyone-on-death-row-you-become-friends-with-them/)

[Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

> [Death Row is the same every day - breakfast at 3 A.M., lunch at 10 A.M., dinner at 3 P.M.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/death-row-is-the-same-every-day-breakfast-at-3-a-m-lunch-at-10-a-m/)

[Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

> [I was put on death row because of hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/i-was-put-on-death-row-because-of-hate/)

[Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

> [I went to Paris, I went to France, I went to England, I went to Ireland. In my mind, I can go wherever I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/i-went-to-paris-i-went-to-france-i-went-to-england-i-went-to-ireland/)

[Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

> [Death row prisoners face enormous challenges in finding lawyers who will assist them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/death-row-prisoners-face-enormous-challenges-in-finding-lawyers-who/)

[Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

> [Believe me, when you're sitting on death row, you want the appeal process to take time; as long as you're going through it, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/believe-me-when-you-re-sitting-on-death-row-you-want-the-appeal/)

[Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

> [Everybody that played a part in sending me to death row, you will answer to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/everybody-that-played-a-part-in-sending-me-to-death-row-you-will/)

[Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

> [I genuinely believe that being on death row for 22 years ultimately saved my life. It was the greatest adventure of my life, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-yarris/i-genuinely-believe-that-being-on-death-row-for-22-years-ultimately/)

[Nick Yarris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-yarris/)

> [“People who are detained (held in prison) are locked up by their past, and because you are locked up by your past you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rev-earl-smith/people-who-are-detained-held-in-prison-are-locked-up-by-their-past/)

[Rev. Earl Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rev-earl-smith/)

## More by Anthony Ray Hinton

> [Justice should be one of the things that's colorblind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/justice-should-be-one-of-the-things-that-s-colorblind/)

[Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

> [There was a time I thought I'd never see the sun again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/there-was-a-time-i-thought-i-d-never-see-the-sun-again/)

[Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

> [In the South, people in power feel they don't have to answer to no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/in-the-south-people-in-power-feel-they-don-t-have-to-answer-to-no-one/)

[Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

> [I shouldn't have sat on death row 30 years. All they had to do was test the gun. But when you think you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/i-shouldn-t-have-sat-on-death-row-30-years-all-they-had-to-do-was/)

[Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

> [I have a good sense of humour, and that's what kept me for the 30 years I was locked up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/i-have-a-good-sense-of-humour-and-that-s-what-kept-me-for-the-30/)

[Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

> [On September 22, 2002, my mama, Buhlar Hinton, died. When the guards told me, I gave up. She'd been deteriorating for a long time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/on-september-22-2002-my-mama-buhlar-hinton-died-when-the-guards-told/)

[Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

> [America should be ashamed to say they have the best justice system in the world when, every day, race plays a part in who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/america-should-be-ashamed-to-say-they-have-the-best-justice-system-in/)

[Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

> [Black, poor, without a father most of my life, one of 10 children - it was actually pretty amazing I had made it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/black-poor-without-a-father-most-of-my-life-one-of-10-children-it-was/)

[Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

> [When it seems like the whole world thinks you're bad, it's hard to hang on to your goodness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/when-it-seems-like-the-whole-world-thinks-you-re-bad-it-s-hard-to/)

[Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

> [Believe me, when you're sitting on death row, you want the appeal process to take time; as long as you're going through it, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/believe-me-when-you-re-sitting-on-death-row-you-want-the-appeal/)

[Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

> [I want you to know there is a God. He sits high, but he looks low. He will destroy, but yet he will defend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/i-want-you-to-know-there-is-a-god-he-sits-high-but-he-looks-low-he/)

[Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

> [I loved to read books in the free world, and there was a lot of time to sit around and do nothing in prison.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/i-loved-to-read-books-in-the-free-world-and-there-was-a-lot-of-time/)

[Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

> [When the very people that you been taught to believe in - the police, the D.A., these are the people that are supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/when-the-very-people-that-you-been-taught-to-believe-in-the-police/)

[Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

> [Death row prisoners face enormous challenges in finding lawyers who will assist them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/death-row-prisoners-face-enormous-challenges-in-finding-lawyers-who/)

[Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

> [Bitterness kills the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/bitterness-kills-the-soul/)

[Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

[Explore all 71 Anthony Ray Hinton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/)

## More Being quotes

> [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/)

[Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/)

> [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/)

[Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/)

> [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/)

[Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [I love to fish. I love the peacefulness of being around the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-love-to-fish-i-love-the-peacefulness-of-being-around-the-water/)

[Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/)

> [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/)

[James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/)

> [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/)

[Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/)

> [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/)

[Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/)

> [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/)

[Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/)

> [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/)

[Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/)

> [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/)

[Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/)

> [We should not live in fear, we should all enjoy being able to express our views freely and openly, challenge each other on issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-should-not-live-in-fear-we-should-all-enjoy-being-able-to-express/)

[Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/)

[Browse all 18,139 Being quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Being on death row has taken so much from me as a human being.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Anthony Ray Hinton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/being-on-death-row-has-taken-so-much-from-me-as-a-human-being/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Being"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/being-on-death-row-has-taken-so-much-from-me-as-a-human-being/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/anthony-ray-hinton-9609_being_being-on-death-row-has-taken-so-much-fro_2840411.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/anthony-ray-hinton-9609_being_being-on-death-row-has-taken-so-much-fro_2840411.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/anthony-ray-hinton-9609_being_being-on-death-row-has-taken-so-much-fro_2840411.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Being on death row has taken so much from me as a human being.” — Anthony Ray Hinton",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Anthony Ray Hinton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Being on death row has taken...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/being-on-death-row-has-taken-so-much-from-me-as-a-human-being/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/being-on-death-row-has-taken-so-much-from-me-as-a-human-being/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
