““Since time began man has been struggling with the problem of behavior. In early days, when almost every human attribute had its counterpart in celestial spheres, with favorite gods who presided over particular human emotions, an offense by a mortal was interpreted as an affront to the Deity. Only the death of the offender could propitiate the anger of the offended god. It is not surprising, therefore, that a parallel has been drawn between the ancient custom of human sacrifice and capital punishment of today. Human sacrifices by way of propitiation to the old nebulous fancies of theology; capital punishment in deference to the modern, nebulous god known as public sentiment. One was, of course, as impotent as the other is fallacious.””
![“The law which attempts a man's life [capital punishment] is…” 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)
