--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An execution carried out in secrecy is no…" description: "\"“An execution carried out in secrecy is no better than lynching from a dry branch.”\" — Loren D. Estleman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/325/loren-d-estleman-42640_execution_an-execution-carried-out-in-secrecy-is-n_661465.jpg" --- # An execution carried out in secrecy is no better than… ![“An execution carried out in secrecy is no better than lynching from a dry branch.” quote by Loren D. Estleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/325/loren-d-estleman-42640_execution_an-execution-carried-out-in-secrecy-is-n_661465.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/325/loren-d-estleman-42640_execution_an-execution-carried-out-in-secrecy-is-n_661465.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/325/loren-d-estleman-42640_execution_an-execution-carried-out-in-secrecy-is-n_661465.jpg) > ““An execution carried out in secrecy is no better than lynching from a dry branch.”” [Loren D. Estleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-d-estleman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Secret executions are as immoral as lynching; secrecy does not justify violence. **In simple terms:** Secret killings are still immoral. Key Takeaway Condemn hidden violence. Themes justice morality violence Mood critical somber Type ethical political When to use this quote - political repression - war crimes - organized crime - authoritarian regimes Key Concepts ethics law human rights Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms expose hidden crimes? - How can societies prevent secret violence? A Different Perspective Secrecy may hide evidence, complicating accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better Lynching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-lynching-5270646/) [Execution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/execution/) [Execution Carried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/execution-carried-5159224/) [Lynching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lynching/) [Lynching Dry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lynching-dry-5270645/) [Secrecy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secrecy/) ## Related quotes > [I'm using the death penalty to keep Alabama family safe from the most violent criminals, why? It's because it works. 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I had seen photographs of white folks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-had-seen-a-photograph-of-emmett-till-s-body-just-after-it-was/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [There is not a single celebrated Southern name in any of the departments of human industry except those of war, assassination, lynching, murder, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/there-is-not-a-single-celebrated-southern-name-in-any-of-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [There is nothing we can do about the lynching now, as we are out-numbered and without arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/there-is-nothing-we-can-do-about-the-lynching-now-as-we-are-out/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [Although lynchings have steadily increased in number and barbarity during the last twenty years, there has been no single effort put forth by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/although-lynchings-have-steadily-increased-in-number-and-barbarity/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [I rise today to offer a formal and heartfelt apology to all the victims of lynching in our history, and for the failure of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/i-rise-today-to-offer-a-formal-and-heartfelt-apology-to-all-the/) [George Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/) > [No reporter of my generation, whatever his genius, ever really rated spats and a walking stick until he had covered both a lynching and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/no-reporter-of-my-generation-whatever-his-genius-ever-really-rated/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [“It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can stop him from lynching me, and I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/it-may-be-true-that-the-law-cannot-make-a-man-love-me-but-it-can-stop/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [As a southerner born after the epic events of the civil rights movement, I've always wondered how on earth people of good will could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/as-a-southerner-born-after-the-epic-events-of-the-civil-rights/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) > [Hate demands existence, and he who hates has to show his hate in appropriate actions and behaviors; in a sense, he has to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frantz-fanon/hate-demands-existence-and-he-who-hates-has-to-show-his-hate-in/) [Frantz Fanon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frantz-fanon/) > [“The conspicuous absence of the lynching tree in American theological discourse and preaching is profoundly revealing, especially since the crucifixion was clearly a first-century…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-h-cone/the-conspicuous-absence-of-the-lynching-tree-in-american-theological/) [James H. Cone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-h-cone/) > [Lynching is color line murder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/lynching-is-color-line-murder/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [The nineteenth century lynching mob cuts off ears, toes, and fingers, strips off flesh, and distributes portions of the body as souvenirs among the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-nineteenth-century-lynching-mob-cuts-off-ears-toes-and-fingers/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) ## More by Loren D. Estleman > [“Cherokee's American, Ned. It don't get more American than that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-d-estleman/cherokee-s-american-ned-it-don-t-get-more-american-than-that/) [Loren D. Estleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-d-estleman/) > [Steve Forman is a brutally funny writer. His no-nonsense, unadorned style begs comparison to Dashiell Hammett, but Hammett's humor at its darkest never hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-d-estleman/steve-forman-is-a-brutally-funny-writer-his-no-nonsense-unadorned/) [Loren D. Estleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-d-estleman/) > [“Now came details of Goldby's adventures with the Cooks and their band. "Chicken, Dynamite Dick, The Verdigris Kid. I wish these fellows read something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-d-estleman/now-came-details-of-goldby-s-adventures-with-the-cooks-and-their-band/) [Loren D. Estleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-d-estleman/) > [I don't have so many friends I can afford to drop one just because he tried to kill me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-d-estleman/i-don-t-have-so-many-friends-i-can-afford-to-drop-one-just-because-he/) [Loren D. Estleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-d-estleman/) > [“In 1914, Franz Ferdinand, the Austrian imperial heir, was shot and killed by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo. Do you know the motive behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-d-estleman/in-1914-franz-ferdinand-the-austrian-imperial-heir-was-shot-and/) [Loren D. Estleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-d-estleman/) > [“Without question, his picture did not do him justice, but again, he was dead when it was taken”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-d-estleman/without-question-his-picture-did-not-do-him-justice-but-again-he-was/) [Loren D. Estleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-d-estleman/) > [“Early on as news of the sextuple execution in Fort Smith spread, rooted itself in the umber soil of the western Indian Nations, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-d-estleman/early-on-as-news-of-the-sextuple-execution-in-fort-smith-spread/) [Loren D. Estleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-d-estleman/) > [“Concealing himself from his father's wrath, behind the barn with wick turned low and his face two inches from the rough sawtooth page, Young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-d-estleman/concealing-himself-from-his-father-s-wrath-behind-the-barn-with-wick/) [Loren D. Estleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-d-estleman/) > [If the detective should suffer overmuch from the artistic temperament, and his fellow lodger should dwell overlong upon the fairness of a wrist or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-d-estleman/if-the-detective-should-suffer-overmuch-from-the-artistic-temperament/) [Loren D. Estleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-d-estleman/) [Explore all 10 Loren D. Estleman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-d-estleman/) ## More Execution quotes > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [For the execution of the voyage to the Indies, I did not make use of intelligence, mathematics or maps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/for-the-execution-of-the-voyage-to-the-indies-i-did-not-make-use-of/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ideas are easy. Execution is everything. It takes a team to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-doerr/ideas-are-easy-execution-is-everything-it-takes-a-team-to-win/) [John Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doerr/) > [The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Cooking brings me so much joy. I love everything, down to the execution of the plate to picking out fresh ingredients at the market.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-budig/cooking-brings-me-so-much-joy-i-love-everything-down-to-the-execution/) [Kathryn Budig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-budig/) > [When you shoot someone who is fleeing, it's not self-defense. It's an execution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-shoot-someone-who-is-fleeing-it-s-not-self-defense-it-s-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Art is beauty, the perpetual invention of detail, the choice of words, the exquisite care of execution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theophile-gautier/art-is-beauty-the-perpetual-invention-of-detail-the-choice-of-words/) [Theophile Gautier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theophile-gautier/) > [The pursuit of peace resembles the building of a great cathedral. It is the work of a generation. In concept it requires a mater-architect;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/the-pursuit-of-peace-resembles-the-building-of-a-great-cathedral-it/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [If there were no executioners, there would be no executions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/if-there-were-no-executioners-there-would-be-no-executions/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [It is far more difficult to be simple than to be complicated; far more difficult to sacrifice skill and easy execution in the proper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-is-far-more-difficult-to-be-simple-than-to-be-complicated-far-more/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Basketball, like all sports, is predicated on the execution of fundamentals. The coach is a teacher. His subject: fundamentals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ramsay/basketball-like-all-sports-is-predicated-on-the-execution-of/) [Jack Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ramsay/) > [Systems program building is an entropy-decreasing process, hence inherently metastable. Program maintenance is an entropy-increasing process, and even its most skillful execution only delays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/systems-program-building-is-an-entropy-decreasing-process-hence/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This strongly asserted but ill-defined license to kill without accountability is not an entitlement which the United States or other states can have without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-alston/this-strongly-asserted-but-ill-defined-license-to-kill-without/) [Philip Alston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-alston/) [Browse all 868 Execution quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/execution/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“An execution carried out in secrecy is no better than lynching from a dry branch.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Loren D. 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