---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But this is not to say that the society…"
description: "\"But this is not to say that the society which inflicts capital punishment commits murder.\" — Benjamin Tucker"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/223/benjamin-tucker-9951_capital_but-this-is-not-to-say-that-the-society_1230936.png"
---

#  But this is not to say that the society which inflicts…

![“But this is not to say that the society which inflicts capital punishment commits murder.” quote by Benjamin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/223/benjamin-tucker-9951_capital_but-this-is-not-to-say-that-the-society_1230936.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/223/benjamin-tucker-9951_capital_but-this-is-not-to-say-that-the-society_1230936.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/223/benjamin-tucker-9951_capital_but-this-is-not-to-say-that-the-society_1230936.png)

> “But this is not to say that the society which inflicts capital punishment commits murder.”

[Benjamin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-tucker/)

## About This Quote

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

Argues that state‑imposed capital punishment is not equivalent to murder because it is a legal act, not a personal crime.

**In simple terms:** Legal killing differs from personal murder.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the legal‑ethical distinction in state violence.

Themes

law morality state violence capital punishment justice

Mood

critical analytical

Type

philosophical political

When to use this quote

- court sentencing
- government policy debates
- human rights activism

Key Concepts

Legal theory ethical philosophy political theory

Questions to Reflect On

- Is legal authority a sufficient moral justification?
- Can a state be truly just while executing?

A Different Perspective

The distinction may ignore the moral weight of taking life.

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[Capital](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capital/) [Capital punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capital-punishment/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder/) [Punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishment/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/)

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