Capital punishment Quote by George Orwell
“Most people approve of capital punishment, but most people wouldn't do the hangman's job.”
About This Quote
Most people support death penalty yet avoid the personal act of execution.
In simple terms: People oppose the act they support.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the gap between belief and action.
Themes
ethics
justice
human nature
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political debate
- legal reform
- personal decisions
Key Concepts
moral responsibility
cognitive dissonance
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you support policies you wouldn't personally enact?
- How does distance affect moral judgments?
A Different Perspective
Support may not translate to personal willingness.
![“The law which attempts a man's life [capital punishment] is impractical, unjust, inadmissible. It has never repressed crime--for a second crime is every day committed at the foot of the scaffold.” quote by Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b85/marquis-de-sade-1964_capital-punishment_the-law-which-attempts-a-man-s-life-capi_99486.jpg)
![“[T]here are some human rights that are so deep that we can't negotiate them away. I mean people do heinous, terrible things. But there are basic human rights I believe that every human being has. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the United Nations says it for me. And it says there are…” quote by Sister Helen Prejean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5c4/sister-helen-prejean-94083_an-eye-for-an-eye_t-here-are-some-human-rights-that-are-so_222080.jpg)
