--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I no longer shall tinker with the…" description: "\"I no longer shall tinker with the machinery of death.\" — Harry A. Blackmun" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/harry-a-blackmun-19399_death_i-no-longer-shall-tinker-with-the-machin_1235228.jpg" --- # I no longer shall tinker with the machinery of death. ![“I no longer shall tinker with the machinery of death.” quote by Harry A. Blackmun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/harry-a-blackmun-19399_death_i-no-longer-shall-tinker-with-the-machin_1235228.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/harry-a-blackmun-19399_death_i-no-longer-shall-tinker-with-the-machin_1235228.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/harry-a-blackmun-19399_death_i-no-longer-shall-tinker-with-the-machin_1235228.jpg) > “I no longer shall tinker with the machinery of death.” [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. A pledge to stop interfering with lethal technology, emphasizing the sanctity of life. **In simple terms:** Stop meddling with death‑making machines. Key Takeaway Reject harmful inventions. Themes ethics law life technology Mood serious reflective Type legal ethical When to use this quote - medical device regulation - policy debates - public health - legal advocacy Key Concepts bioethics judicial restraint Questions to Reflect On - How do we balance safety with progress? - What responsibilities do judges have in tech? A Different Perspective May conflict with medical innovation needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Tinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tinker/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [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. ... I fell morally and intellectually obligated simply to concede…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-a-blackmun/from-this-day-forward-i-no-longer-shall-tinker-with-the-machinery-of-2/) [Harry A. Blackmun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-a-blackmun/) > [Unstructured play gives kids the space they need to tinker and take risks - both vital for the budding entrepreneur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darell-hammond/unstructured-play-gives-kids-the-space-they-need-to-tinker-and-take/) [Darell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darell-hammond/) > [“You're speaking English but I still don't get it,” Tinker muttered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-street/you-re-speaking-english-but-i-still-don-t-get-it-tinker-muttered/) Bella Street > [I don't give a tinker's damn for posterity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahesh-bhatt/i-don-t-give-a-tinker-s-damn-for-posterity/) [Mahesh Bhatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahesh-bhatt/) > [Bring it on, Tinker Bell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/bring-it-on-tinker-bell/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“A Tinker's Debt is Always Paid: Once for a simple trade. Twice for freely given aid. Thrice for any insult made.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/a-tinker-s-debt-is-always-paid-once-for-a-simple-trade-twice-for/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [My grandfather was a travelling tinker in Cork.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-essex/my-grandfather-was-a-travelling-tinker-in-cork/) [David Essex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-essex/) > [Presidents tend to tinker, you know, and mess everything up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-paulsen/presidents-tend-to-tinker-you-know-and-mess-everything-up/) [Pat Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-paulsen/) > [If it's not broken, tinker with it till you find out how it works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-it-s-not-broken-tinker-with-it-till-you-find-out-how-it-works/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We all think we're snowflakes, but we're Tinker Toys, held together by our interchangeable parts. (39)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-fox/we-all-think-we-re-snowflakes-but-we-re-tinker-toys-held-together-by/) [Lauren Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-fox/) > [Well, I hate to be the one to take the flyswatter to Tinker Bell, but...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kinky-friedman/well-i-hate-to-be-the-one-to-take-the-flyswatter-to-tinker-bell-but/) [Kinky Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kinky-friedman/) > [Maybe there would be a Tinker city someday, too. They would buy up all of the colored dye, and everyone else in the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/maybe-there-would-be-a-tinker-city-someday-too-they-would-buy-up-all/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [The creation of George Smiley, the retired spy recalled to hunt for just such a high-ranking mole in 'Tinker, Tailor,' was extremely personal. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-creation-of-george-smiley-the-retired-spy-recalled-to-hunt-for/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) ## 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. Blackmun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-a-blackmun/) > [I hope you will be yourself, human, even a little sentimental, possessed of a sense of humor and a sense of humility. . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-a-blackmun/i-hope-you-will-be-yourself-human-even-a-little-sentimental-possessed/) [Harry A. Blackmun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-a-blackmun/) > [This Court repeatedly has recognized that the whole subject of the domestic relations of husband and wife belongs to the laws of the States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-a-blackmun/this-court-repeatedly-has-recognized-that-the-whole-subject-of-the/) [Harry A. Blackmun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-a-blackmun/) > [We're all eccentrics. We're nine prima donnas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-a-blackmun/we-re-all-eccentrics-we-re-nine-prima-donnas/) [Harry A. Blackmun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-a-blackmun/) > [By placing discretion in the hands of an official to grant or deny a license, such a statute creates a threat of censorship that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-a-blackmun/by-placing-discretion-in-the-hands-of-an-official-to-grant-or-deny-a/) [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/) > [In order to get beyond racism, we must first take account of race. There is no other way. And in order to treat some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-a-blackmun/in-order-to-get-beyond-racism-we-must-first-take-account-of-race/) [Harry A. Blackmun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-a-blackmun/) > [Of one thing, however, I am certain. Just as an execution without adequate safeguards is unacceptable, so too is an execution when the condemned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-a-blackmun/of-one-thing-however-i-am-certain-just-as-an-execution-without/) [Harry A. Blackmun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-a-blackmun/) > [Disapproval of homosexuality cannot justify invading the houses, hearts and minds of citizens who choose to live their lives differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-a-blackmun/disapproval-of-homosexuality-cannot-justify-invading-the-houses/) [Harry A. Blackmun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-a-blackmun/) > [Abortion raises moral and spiritual questions over which honorable persons can disagree sincerely and profoundly. But those disagreements did not then and do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-a-blackmun/abortion-raises-moral-and-spiritual-questions-over-which-honorable/) [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. ... I fell morally and intellectually obligated simply to concede…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-a-blackmun/from-this-day-forward-i-no-longer-shall-tinker-with-the-machinery-of-2/) [Harry A. Blackmun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-a-blackmun/) > [What the Court really has refused to recognize is the fundamental interest all individuals have in controlling the nature of their intimate associations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-a-blackmun/what-the-court-really-has-refused-to-recognize-is-the-fundamental/) [Harry A. Blackmun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-a-blackmun/) [Explore all 32 Harry A. Blackmun quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-a-blackmun/) ## More Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) J. Anthony Torino > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) Alan W. Powers > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/) [Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) [Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I no longer shall tinker with the machinery of death.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harry A. 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