--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For more than 20 years my identity was…" description: "\"For more than 20 years my identity was bonded with those people on death row, I cared about them.\" — Nick Yarris" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecd/nick-yarris-20261_death_for-more-than-20-years-my-identity-was-b_2097398.jpg" --- # For more than 20 years my identity was bonded with those… ![“For more than 20 years my identity was bonded with those people on death row, I cared about them.” quote by Nick Yarris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecd/nick-yarris-20261_death_for-more-than-20-years-my-identity-was-b_2097398.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecd/nick-yarris-20261_death_for-more-than-20-years-my-identity-was-b_2097398.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecd/nick-yarris-20261_death_for-more-than-20-years-my-identity-was-b_2097398.jpg) > “For more than 20 years my identity was bonded with those people on death row, I cared about them.” [Nick Yarris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-yarris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker’s sense of self was defined by empathy for death‑row inmates, showing how personal identity can be tied to a cause. **In simple terms:** Identity linked to caring for prisoners. Key Takeaway Recognize how causes shape you. Themes identity empathy justice Mood reflective somber Type personal ethical When to use this quote - advocacy work - volunteering - prison reform discussions - personal reflection Key Concepts psychology social identity morality Questions to Reflect On - How does your purpose evolve over time? - What happens when you detach from a cause? A Different Perspective Identity may become limiting if the cause changes or ends. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [20 Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/20-years/) [Bonded People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bonded-people-3630943/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death row](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-row/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Identity Bonded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity-bonded-4175327/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison/) [Row Cared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/row-cared-4175328/) [Those](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/those/) ## Related quotes > [I genuinely believe that being on death row for 22 years ultimately saved my life. It was the greatest adventure of my life, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-yarris/i-genuinely-believe-that-being-on-death-row-for-22-years-ultimately/) [Nick Yarris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-yarris/) > [“Sex contained all sorts of promises—I love you, I will see you again, I will not hurt you. It bonded people. It took down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-lacroix/sex-contained-all-sorts-of-promises-i-love-you-i-will-see-you-again-i/) [Maggie LaCroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-lacroix/) > [I've made a lot of mistakes. I've bonded with some people who use you, and some people that take advantage of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-king/i-ve-made-a-lot-of-mistakes-i-ve-bonded-with-some-people-who-use-you/) [Larry King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-king/) > [My 15 years of freedom have been harder than all of my death row years combined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-yarris/my-15-years-of-freedom-have-been-harder-than-all-of-my-death-row/) [Nick Yarris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-yarris/) > [So the chances of you being sentenced to Death Row in America is roughly the same as you winning the lottery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-yarris/so-the-chances-of-you-being-sentenced-to-death-row-in-america-is/) [Nick Yarris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-yarris/) > [Death row saved my life. It taught me everything is a luxury to be treasured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-yarris/death-row-saved-my-life-it-taught-me-everything-is-a-luxury-to-be/) [Nick Yarris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-yarris/) > [In death row every rule in society is flipped.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-yarris/in-death-row-every-rule-in-society-is-flipped/) [Nick Yarris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-yarris/) > [“People who are detained (held in prison) are locked up by their past, and because you are locked up by your past you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rev-earl-smith/people-who-are-detained-held-in-prison-are-locked-up-by-their-past/) [Rev. Earl Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rev-earl-smith/) > [If we continue as we have for the past 20 years in California, in the year 2020, everybody in the State will either be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/if-we-continue-as-we-have-for-the-past-20-years-in-california-in-the/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [I would prefer to remain in prison for another 20 years than bargain my beliefs for freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-geagea/i-would-prefer-to-remain-in-prison-for-another-20-years-than-bargain/) [Samir Geagea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samir-geagea/) > [“That was me. I was The Fixer. Everything was fixed. Well, other than what was important. I walked down the hallway of the hospital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-shen/that-was-me-i-was-the-fixer-everything-was-fixed-well-other-than-what/) [L.J. Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-shen/) > [Joe Biden cannot leave the lives of those on death row in the hands of future presidents. If he truly opposes the death penalty,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cori-bush/joe-biden-cannot-leave-the-lives-of-those-on-death-row-in-the-hands/) [Cori Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cori-bush/) > [I did not get my Spaghetti-O's, I got spaghetti. I want the press to know this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-grasso/i-did-not-get-my-spaghetti-o-s-i-got-spaghetti-i-want-the-press-to/) [Thomas J. Grasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-grasso/) > [The drink? Yes, I've had tough times in my life, especially the last year, regarding my ex-wife, my kids, I nearly broke my neck,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gascoigne/the-drink-yes-i-ve-had-tough-times-in-my-life-especially-the-last/) [Paul Gascoigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gascoigne/) > [“Advice? I don’t have advice. Stop aspiring and start writing. If you’re writing, you’re a writer. Write like you’re a goddamn death row inmate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-wilson-watts/advice-i-don-t-have-advice-stop-aspiring-and-start-writing-if-you-re/) [Alan Wilson Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-wilson-watts/) ## More by Nick Yarris > [It is really difficult to read a movie script about yourself and to think that a major actor - perhaps even Chris Pine -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-yarris/it-is-really-difficult-to-read-a-movie-script-about-yourself-and-to/) [Nick Yarris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-yarris/) > [In death row every rule in society is flipped.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-yarris/in-death-row-every-rule-in-society-is-flipped/) [Nick Yarris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-yarris/) > [I genuinely believe that being on death row for 22 years ultimately saved my life. It was the greatest adventure of my life, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-yarris/i-genuinely-believe-that-being-on-death-row-for-22-years-ultimately/) [Nick Yarris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-yarris/) > [My sentence formally was imposed on my mothers 50th Birthday January 24th 1983. The jury recommended it July 1st 1982.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-yarris/my-sentence-formally-was-imposed-on-my-mothers-50th-birthday-january/) [Nick Yarris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-yarris/) > [The whole purpose of my education ultimately was so I could deliver a statement eloquently before my execution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-yarris/the-whole-purpose-of-my-education-ultimately-was-so-i-could-deliver-a/) [Nick Yarris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-yarris/) > [Here's the crazy thing: if I was guilty I would be entitled to job training, housing, medical treatment. But I have nothing. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-yarris/here-s-the-crazy-thing-if-i-was-guilty-i-would-be-entitled-to-job/) [Nick Yarris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-yarris/) > [Everyone seems to be rushing through their lives, wishing they had just two minutes to do all the things they want to get gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-yarris/everyone-seems-to-be-rushing-through-their-lives-wishing-they-had/) [Nick Yarris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-yarris/) > [Death row saved my life. It taught me everything is a luxury to be treasured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-yarris/death-row-saved-my-life-it-taught-me-everything-is-a-luxury-to-be/) [Nick Yarris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-yarris/) > [I believe life imprisonment is far worse than the death penalty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-yarris/i-believe-life-imprisonment-is-far-worse-than-the-death-penalty/) [Nick Yarris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-yarris/) > [They put me in solitary confinement, and although I went on to do 8,755 days of solitary in total, the first two were the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-yarris/they-put-me-in-solitary-confinement-and-although-i-went-on-to-do-8/) [Nick Yarris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-yarris/) > [I used music and reading to erase my world, so basically I read for up to 16 hours a day for 23 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-yarris/i-used-music-and-reading-to-erase-my-world-so-basically-i-read-for-up/) [Nick Yarris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-yarris/) > [The hardest thing to do when people are hurting you is to remain a decent person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-yarris/the-hardest-thing-to-do-when-people-are-hurting-you-is-to-remain-a/) [Nick Yarris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-yarris/) > [I was 20 when I was sentenced to death. My life had been on a one-way path to self-destruction for years. I don't remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-yarris/i-was-20-when-i-was-sentenced-to-death-my-life-had-been-on-a-one-way/) [Nick Yarris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-yarris/) > [I had an enormous responsibility not just to survive but to become a good man because I had all of my family's hopes on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-yarris/i-had-an-enormous-responsibility-not-just-to-survive-but-to-become-a/) [Nick Yarris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-yarris/) > [I used to dream about being able to sit at a table with another human being, have a normal conversation, and have a meal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-yarris/i-used-to-dream-about-being-able-to-sit-at-a-table-with-another-human/) [Nick Yarris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-yarris/) [Explore all 31 Nick Yarris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-yarris/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "For more than 20 years my identity was bonded with those people on death row, I cared about them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nick Yarris" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-yarris/for-more-than-20-years-my-identity-was-bonded-with-those-people-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-yarris/for-more-than-20-years-my-identity-was-bonded-with-those-people-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecd/nick-yarris-20261_death_for-more-than-20-years-my-identity-was-b_2097398.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecd/nick-yarris-20261_death_for-more-than-20-years-my-identity-was-b_2097398.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecd/nick-yarris-20261_death_for-more-than-20-years-my-identity-was-b_2097398.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For more than 20 years my identity was bonded with those people on death row, I cared about them.” — Nick Yarris", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Nick Yarris", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-yarris/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "For more than 20 years my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-yarris/for-more-than-20-years-my-identity-was-bonded-with-those-people-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-yarris/for-more-than-20-years-my-identity-was-bonded-with-those-people-on/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```