---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When one creature is murdered, another is…"
description: "\"“When one creature is murdered, another is immediately deprived of life in a slow torturing manner; then the executioners, their hands yet reeking with..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c1/mary-shelley-1789_life_when-one-creature-is-murdered-another-is_850332.jpg"
---

#  When one creature is murdered, another is immediately…

![“When one creature is murdered, another is immediately deprived of life in a slow torturing manner; then the executioners, their hands yet reeking with the blood of innocence, believe that they have done a great deed.” quote by Mary Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c1/mary-shelley-1789_life_when-one-creature-is-murdered-another-is_850332.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c1/mary-shelley-1789_life_when-one-creature-is-murdered-another-is_850332.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c1/mary-shelley-1789_life_when-one-creature-is-murdered-another-is_850332.jpg)

> ““When one creature is murdered, another is immediately deprived of life in a slow torturing manner; then the executioners, their hands yet reeking with the blood of innocence, believe that they have done a great deed.””

[Mary Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-shelley/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The passage portrays the cascading loss of life caused by murder, highlighting the moral blindness of perpetrators who deem their act noble.

**In simple terms:** Murder creates a chain of suffering, yet killers see it as righteous.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the broader impact of violence.

Themes

morality violence consequences

Mood

somber critical

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

- criminal justice reform
- peace education
- trauma counseling

Key Concepts

ethical blindness human suffering

Questions to Reflect On

- What hidden harms follow violent acts?
- How can societies prevent moral rationalization of cruelty?

A Different Perspective

Moral justification can be self‑deception.

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[Executioners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executioners/) [Executioners Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executioners-hands-743284/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Manner Executioners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manner-executioners-743285/) [Slow Torturing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slow-torturing-743286/) [Torturing Manner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torturing-manner-743287/)

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## More by Mary Shelley

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