--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The great danger of humane punishment is…" description: "\"The great danger of humane punishment is that people will come to accept state murder as something sanitary. I don't think bureaucracy should ever be e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48c/jerry-brown-7257_accepting_the-great-danger-of-humane-punishment-is_1658477.jpg" --- # The great danger of humane punishment is that people will… ![“The great danger of humane punishment is that people will come to accept state murder as something sanitary. I don't think bureaucracy should ever be entrusted with that kind of power.” quote by Jerry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48c/jerry-brown-7257_accepting_the-great-danger-of-humane-punishment-is_1658477.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48c/jerry-brown-7257_accepting_the-great-danger-of-humane-punishment-is_1658477.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48c/jerry-brown-7257_accepting_the-great-danger-of-humane-punishment-is_1658477.jpg) > “The great danger of humane punishment is that people will come to accept state murder as something sanitary. I don't think bureaucracy should ever be entrusted with that kind of power.” [Jerry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-brown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The risk is that humane punishment normalizes state killing, making it seem acceptable and bureaucratically managed. **In simple terms:** Humane punishment can hide the reality of state killing. Key Takeaway Beware of sanitizing state violence. Themes justice state power ethics Mood critical concerned Type political ethical When to use this quote - policy debate - legal reform - public opinion - activism Key Concepts human rights bureaucracy punishment Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape perception of state violence? - What safeguards can prevent bureaucratic abuse? A Different Perspective Sanitizing violence may reduce public scrutiny and accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bureaucracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bureaucracy/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder/) [Penalty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/penalty/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishment/) [Sanitary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanitary/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Most people approve of capital punishment, but most people wouldn't do the hangman's job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/most-people-approve-of-capital-punishment-but-most-people-wouldn-t-do/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“But though some punishments are more inhuman than others there is no such thing as humane punishment. As long as nineteen men claim the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/but-though-some-punishments-are-more-inhuman-than-others-there-is-no/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [The prayer does call for serious, serious punishment on people. 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We have to create cooperatives, we have to create intentional communities, we have to work for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-brown/we-have-to-deal-with-where-we-are-we-have-to-create-cooperatives-we/) [Jerry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-brown/) > [America and the world is not yet on the proper trajectory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-brown/america-and-the-world-is-not-yet-on-the-proper-trajectory/) [Jerry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-brown/) > [I will defend everybody, every man, woman and child who's come to California for a better life and has contributed to the well-being of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-brown/i-will-defend-everybody-every-man-woman-and-child-who-s-come-to/) [Jerry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-brown/) > [We have to be realistic about what the state can afford, and put an end to abuses of the system that cost millions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-brown/we-have-to-be-realistic-about-what-the-state-can-afford-and-put-an/) [Jerry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-brown/) > [The sovereignty of America has just been eroded in plain daylight by Clinton and the Congress, who take an oath to the Constitution. 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