--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As one whose husband and mother-in-law…" description: "\"As one whose husband and mother-in-law have died the victims of murder and assassination, I stand firmly and unequivocally opposed to the death penalty..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c5/coretta-scott-king-3912_assassination_as-one-whose-husband-and-mother-in-law-h_464450.jpg" --- # As one whose husband and mother-in-law have died the… ![“As one whose husband and mother-in-law have died the victims of murder and assassination, I stand firmly and unequivocally opposed to the death penalty for those convicted of capital offenses. An evil deed is not redeemed by an evil deed of retaliation. Justice is never advanced in the taking of a…” quote by Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c5/coretta-scott-king-3912_assassination_as-one-whose-husband-and-mother-in-law-h_464450.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c5/coretta-scott-king-3912_assassination_as-one-whose-husband-and-mother-in-law-h_464450.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c5/coretta-scott-king-3912_assassination_as-one-whose-husband-and-mother-in-law-h_464450.jpg) > “As one whose husband and mother-in-law have died the victims of murder and assassination, I stand firmly and unequivocally opposed to the death penalty for those convicted of capital offenses. An evil deed is not redeemed by an evil deed of retaliation. Justice is never advanced in the taking of a human life. Morality is never upheld by a legalized murder.” [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that state‑sanctioned killing cannot bring justice or moral good, even for heinous crimes. **In simple terms:** Violence be not solve violence; killing does not bring justice. Key Takeaway Oppose death penalty; seek humane justice. Themes justice morality non‑violence human rights Mood somber determined Type ethical political advocacy When to use this quote - court sentencing - policy debates - victim advocacy - prison reform Key Concepts retributive justice ethical limits state power Questions to Reflect On - Can a society be truly just without capital punishment? - What alternatives ensure safety and accountability? A Different Perspective The argument may overlook victims' need for closure or deterrence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assassination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assassination/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death penalty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-penalty/) [Deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeds/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Human life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-life/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Husband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/husband/) [In-laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/in-laws/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Mother in law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-in-law/) [Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder/) [Penalties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/penalties/) [Retaliation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retaliation/) [Stand firm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-firm/) [Victim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victim/) ## Related quotes > [As one whose husband and mother-in-law have died the victims of murder and assassination, I stand firmly and unequivocally opposed to the death penalty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/as-one-whose-husband-and-mother-in-law-have-died-the-victims-of-2/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [An evil deed is not redeemed by an evil deed in retaliation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/an-evil-deed-is-not-redeemed-by-an-evil-deed-in-retaliation/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [“The whole scene was indecent, mad. It smacked of murder and assassination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/the-whole-scene-was-indecent-mad-it-smacked-of-murder-and/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“America also has sinned grievously since 1973 in allowing, by law, the killing of as many as fifty five million American babies in, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-price/america-also-has-sinned-grievously-since-1973-in-allowing-by-law-the/) [John Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-price/) > [I am not anarchist. I have nothing against government or law enforcement in general. It is solely for the reason that this govt has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-rudolph/i-am-not-anarchist-i-have-nothing-against-government-or-law/) [Eric Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-rudolph/) > [It is solely for the reason that this government has legalized the murder of children that I have no allegiance to nor do I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-rudolph/it-is-solely-for-the-reason-that-this-government-has-legalized-the/) [Eric Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-rudolph/) > [Almost all the early Christian Fathers were opposed to the death penalty, even though it was of course standard practice across the ancient world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/almost-all-the-early-christian-fathers-were-opposed-to-the-death/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [I'm opposed to the death penalty not because I think it's unconstitutional per se-although I think it's been applied in ways that are unconstitutional-but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-sekulow/i-m-opposed-to-the-death-penalty-not-because-i-think-it-s/) [Jay Sekulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-sekulow/) > [I am passionately opposed to the death penalty for anyone . . . I think, myself, that it is an obscenity . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/i-am-passionately-opposed-to-the-death-penalty-for-anyone-i-think/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [I was personally opposed to the death penalty, and yet I think I have probably asked for the death penalty more than most people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reno/i-was-personally-opposed-to-the-death-penalty-and-yet-i-think-i-have/) [Janet Reno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reno/) > [As a Christian, as an individual, as a doctor, I am absolutely opposed to the death penalty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joycelyn-elders/as-a-christian-as-an-individual-as-a-doctor-i-am-absolutely-opposed/) [Joycelyn Elders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joycelyn-elders/) > [I'm actually really opposed to the death penalty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-paxton/i-m-actually-really-opposed-to-the-death-penalty/) [Bill Paxton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-paxton/) > [My personal view is that I am opposed to the death penalty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-brown/my-personal-view-is-that-i-am-opposed-to-the-death-penalty/) [Kate Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-brown/) > [Revenge and retaliation always perpetuate the cycle of anger, fear and violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/revenge-and-retaliation-always-perpetuate-the-cycle-of-anger-fear-and/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [There are some - called 'death fatigue' - people who just grow so tired of death, so they don't want to keep perpetuating death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/there-are-some-called-death-fatigue-people-who-just-grow-so-tired-of/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) ## More by Coretta Scott King > [Mr. Sessions' conduct as a U.S. Attorney, from his politically-motivated voting fraud prosecutions to his indifference toward criminal violations of civil rights laws, indicated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/mr-sessions-conduct-as-a-u-s-attorney-from-his-politically-motivated/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [While not a panacea for the nation's illegal immigration problems, employer sanctions are one necessary means of stopping the exploitation of vulnerable workers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/while-not-a-panacea-for-the-nation-s-illegal-immigration-problems/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [When fear rushed in, I learned how to hear my heart racing but refused to allow my feelings to sway me. That resilience came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/when-fear-rushed-in-i-learned-how-to-hear-my-heart-racing-but-refused/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [I think that... discrimination in the job market is a very important area where work needs to be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/i-think-that-discrimination-in-the-job-market-is-a-very-important/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [We have a lot more work to do in our common struggle against bigotry and discrimination. I say "common struggle" because I believe very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/we-have-a-lot-more-work-to-do-in-our-common-struggle-against-bigotry/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [I am convinced that the women of the world, united without any regard for national or racial dimensions, can become a most powerful force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/i-am-convinced-that-the-women-of-the-world-united-without-any-regard/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [Because Dr. King was human and not divine - although we think he was divine, he was just a man, an extraordinary man, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/because-dr-king-was-human-and-not-divine-although-we-think-he-was/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [If you use weapons of war to bring about peace, you're going to have more war and destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/if-you-use-weapons-of-war-to-bring-about-peace-you-re-going-to-have/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [I'm fulfilled in what I do. I never thought that a lot of money or fine clothes - the finer things of life -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/i-m-fulfilled-in-what-i-do-i-never-thought-that-a-lot-of-money-or/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [The failure to invest in youth reflects a lack of compassion and a colossal failure of common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/the-failure-to-invest-in-youth-reflects-a-lack-of-compassion-and-a/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [I believe that women know if their husbands are unfaithful. They feel it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/i-believe-that-women-know-if-their-husbands-are-unfaithful-they-feel/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [For many years now, I have been an outspoken supporter of civil and human rights for gay and lesbian people. Gays and lesbians stood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/for-many-years-now-i-have-been-an-outspoken-supporter-of-civil-and/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [ People have to allow themselves to be used by God and Martin \[Luther King, Jr.\] committed himself totally to God's will and purpose and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/people-have-to-allow-themselves-to-be-used-by-god-and-martin-luther/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [Scandal sells books; fidelity does not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/scandal-sells-books-fidelity-does-not/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [Marrying Martin and the movement perfected my journey of discovery, soothed my yearning to pour out the values and vision within my soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/marrying-martin-and-the-movement-perfected-my-journey-of-discovery/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) [Explore all 119 Coretta Scott King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) ## More Assassination quotes > [If it comes to a question of law, the charges they brought against me - the Espionage Act - is called the quintessential political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-it-comes-to-a-question-of-law-the-charges-they-brought-against-me/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [ We have the ability to take him \[President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez\] out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-robertson/we-have-the-ability-to-take-him-president-of-venezuela-hugo-chavez/) [Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-robertson/) > [“Assassination is murder with a touch more precision. Brother Sim is precise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lawrence/assassination-is-murder-with-a-touch-more-precision-brother-sim-is/) [Mark Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lawrence/) > [Strange, (is it not?) that battles, martyrs, blood, even assassination should so condense - perhaps only really lastingly condense - a Nationality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/strange-is-it-not-that-battles-martyrs-blood-even-assassination/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [In modern day academia, secretly assassinating your peers is not necessarily performed the same way it was in king Tarquins day. The growth in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-spacey/in-modern-day-academia-secretly-assassinating-your-peers-is-not/) [Simon Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-spacey/) > [The Romans have provided a lot of writers with a model for various interstellar empires, of course, and no wonder. The Roman Empire is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/the-romans-have-provided-a-lot-of-writers-with-a-model-for-various/) [Ann Leckie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-leckie/) > [We know from Talmadge Hayer, one of the men who carried out the assassination, who was shot by Ruben X as he tried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manning-marable/we-know-from-talmadge-hayer-one-of-the-men-who-carried-out-the/) [Manning Marable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manning-marable/) > [Assassination's the fastest way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/assassination-s-the-fastest-way/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [“He also had a condition that was referred to as granulated eyelids and it caused him to blink more than usual, as if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-hansen/he-also-had-a-condition-that-was-referred-to-as-granulated-eyelids/) [Ron Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-hansen/) > [“Hundreds of political assassinations related to minority races, labor leaders and spokesmen against fascism have taken place in the U.S. since World War II.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-brussell/hundreds-of-political-assassinations-related-to-minority-races-labor/) [Mae Brussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-brussell/) > [However, after the assassination of Salman Taseer, the killer of Salman Taseer was welcomed by the religious fanatics. And they showered rose petals on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahbaz-bhatti/however-after-the-assassination-of-salman-taseer-the-killer-of-salman/) [Shahbaz Bhatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahbaz-bhatti/) > [There is not a single celebrated Southern name in any of the departments of human industry except those of war, assassination, lynching, murder, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/there-is-not-a-single-celebrated-southern-name-in-any-of-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I think that the implication of King's assassination has not been fully appreciated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-gates/i-think-that-the-implication-of-king-s-assassination-has-not-been/) [Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/) > [The Senate has been debased to the level of a forum of hate and character assassination sheltered by the shield of congressional immunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chase-smith/the-senate-has-been-debased-to-the-level-of-a-forum-of-hate-and/) [Margaret Chase Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chase-smith/) > [A deep, black grief gripped Robert Kennedy in the months following his brother's assassination. He lost weight, fell into melancholy silences, wore his brother's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-clarke/a-deep-black-grief-gripped-robert-kennedy-in-the-months-following-his/) Thurston Clarke [Browse all 264 Assassination quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assassination/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As one whose husband and mother-in-law have died the victims of murder and assassination, I stand firmly and unequivocally opposed to the death penalty for those convicted of capital offenses. An evil deed is not redeemed by an evil deed of retaliation. Justice is never advanced in the taking of a human life. 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