--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: From this day forward, I no longer shall…" description: "\"From this day forward, I no longer shall tinker with the machinery of death. ... I fell morally and intellectually obligated simply to concede that the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/harry-a-blackmun-19399_death_from-this-day-forward-i-no-longer-shall_1650340.jpg" --- # From this day forward, I no longer shall tinker with the… ![“From this day forward, I no longer shall tinker with the machinery of death. ... I fell morally and intellectually obligated simply to concede that the death penalty experiment has failed.” quote by Harry A. Blackmun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/harry-a-blackmun-19399_death_from-this-day-forward-i-no-longer-shall_1650340.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/harry-a-blackmun-19399_death_from-this-day-forward-i-no-longer-shall_1650340.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/harry-a-blackmun-19399_death_from-this-day-forward-i-no-longer-shall_1650340.jpg) > “From this day forward, I no longer shall tinker with the machinery of death. ... I fell morally and intellectually obligated simply to concede that the death penalty experiment has failed.” [Harry A. Blackmun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-a-blackmun/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The death penalty is ineffective and morally wrong, so it should be abandoned as a form of punishment. **In simple terms:** Capital punishment fails morally and practically. Key Takeaway Reject the death penalty. Themes justice ethics law human rights Mood somber reflective Type legal ethical When to use this quote - criminal sentencing - policy reform - public debate - legislative action Key Concepts retributive justice deterrence moral philosophy Questions to Reflect On - Is punishment more about retribution or deterrence? - What alternatives can ensure public safety? A Different Perspective The quote may overlook victims' families' desire for closure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Concede Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concede-death-646264/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death penalty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-penalty/) [Experiment Failed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiment-failed-646263/) [Experiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiments/) [Failed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failed/) [Fell Morally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fell-morally-646262/) [Machinery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machinery/) [Morally Intellectually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morally-intellectually-646265/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Penalties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/penalties/) [This day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/this-day/) ## Related quotes > [The death penalty experiment has failed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-a-blackmun/the-death-penalty-experiment-has-failed/) [Harry A. Blackmun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-a-blackmun/) > [From this day forward, I no longer shall tinker with the machinery of death. For more than 20 years I have endeavored--indeed, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-a-blackmun/from-this-day-forward-i-no-longer-shall-tinker-with-the-machinery-of-3/) [Harry A. Blackmun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-a-blackmun/) > [From this day forward, I no longer shall tinker with the machinery of death,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-a-blackmun/from-this-day-forward-i-no-longer-shall-tinker-with-the-machinery-of/) [Harry A. Blackmun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-a-blackmun/) > [The worst thing is that we live in a contaminated moral environment. We fell morally ill because we became used to saying something different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/the-worst-thing-is-that-we-live-in-a-contaminated-moral-environment/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [We fell morally ill because we became used to saying something different from what we thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/we-fell-morally-ill-because-we-became-used-to-saying-something/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [To be a European is to try to negotiate morally, intellectually and existentially the opposing statements and praxis of the city of Socrates and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steiner/to-be-a-european-is-to-try-to-negotiate-morally-intellectually-and/) [George Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steiner/) > [“I tried not to think about my life. 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The project, the venture, the experiment: failed, given up on, and not cleaned up after.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/rust-is-the-failure-of-the-work-of-man-the-project-the-venture-the/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [Because the Illinois death penalty system is arbitrary and capricious - and therefore immoral - I no longer shall tinker with the machinery of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ryan/because-the-illinois-death-penalty-system-is-arbitrary-and-capricious/) [George Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ryan/) ## More by Harry A. Blackmun > [If there is any truth to the old proverb that "one who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client," the Court…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-a-blackmun/if-there-is-any-truth-to-the-old-proverb-that-one-who-is-his-own/) [Harry A. Blackmun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-a-blackmun/) > [The states are not free, under the guise of protecting maternal health or potential life, to intimidate women into continuing pregnancies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-a-blackmun/the-states-are-not-free-under-the-guise-of-protecting-maternal-health/) [Harry A. Blackmun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-a-blackmun/) > [The death penalty experiment has failed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-a-blackmun/the-death-penalty-experiment-has-failed/) [Harry A. Blackmun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-a-blackmun/) > [ The mandated description of fetal characteristics at two-week intervals, no matter how objective, is plainly overinclusive. \[It is\] not medical information that is always… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-a-blackmun/the-mandated-description-of-fetal-characteristics-at-two-week/) [Harry A. 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