--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being a hangman requires you to take…" description: "\"“Being a hangman requires you to take someone else’s life based on someone else’s judgment, and carry it out on someone else’s schedule. The job does n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6db/taona-dumisani-chiveneko-15642_africa_being-a-hangman-requires-you-to-take-som_2571697.jpg" --- # Being a hangman requires you to take someone else’s life… ![“Being a hangman requires you to take someone else’s life based on someone else’s judgment, and carry it out on someone else’s schedule. The job does not provide the same satisfaction that an ordinary murderer gets from smashing a skull. It robs them of the fulfillment of plunging a knife into…” quote by Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6db/taona-dumisani-chiveneko-15642_africa_being-a-hangman-requires-you-to-take-som_2571697.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6db/taona-dumisani-chiveneko-15642_africa_being-a-hangman-requires-you-to-take-som_2571697.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6db/taona-dumisani-chiveneko-15642_africa_being-a-hangman-requires-you-to-take-som_2571697.jpg) > ““Being a hangman requires you to take someone else’s life based on someone else’s judgment, and carry it out on someone else’s schedule. The job does not provide the same satisfaction that an ordinary murderer gets from smashing a skull. It robs them of the fulfillment of plunging a knife into someone’s throat. In the world of capital punishment, the prisoner’s crimes have been sanitized by years of sitting on death row. By then, the execution is a cold and impersonal affair. There is prayer, a noose, and a few last words. The prisoner then experiences a sudden rush of blood to the head. At the end of it all, you have a broken neck and a dead body swinging from the end of a rope. That is it. You don’t get to manhandle them with your own hands. That’s why the brutes you mention will never be hired. So you see, Vaida, this is not a job for a murderer. It is a job for a humanitarian.”” [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Execution is a detached, impersonal act that lacks the visceral satisfaction of personal violence, making it a humanitarian rather than murderous role. **In simple terms:** Execution is impersonal, unlike personal killing. Key Takeaway Recognize the moral distance of state‑sanctioned death. Themes ethics state violence humanitarianism Mood somber analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - legal reform - death penalty debate - psychology of execution Key Concepts moral philosophy justice Questions to Reflect On - Can a state truly be humane in killing? - What alternatives exist to capital punishment? A Different Perspective May overlook the suffering of the condemned and their families. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Africa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa/) [Capital punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capital-punishment/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Death row](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-row/) [Execution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/execution/) [Flame-lily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flame-lily/) [Great-zimbabwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-zimbabwe/) [Last Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/last-word/) [Last words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/last-words/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mystrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystrey/) [Parnormal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parnormal/) [Thriller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thriller/) [Zimbabwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zimbabwe/) ## Related quotes > [“As he was about to press the button to shut the doors, a young woman stepped in. She had that sort of beauty that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/as-he-was-about-to-press-the-button-to-shut-the-doors-a-young-woman/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) > [“In Panama, I found a spider that eats its own limbs during lean times. I am told they grow back. But though the distinction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/in-panama-i-found-a-spider-that-eats-its-own-limbs-during-lean-times/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) > [“Further north, I met a Siberian hermit who lived in the foothills of the Ural Mountains. His life’s passion was wrestling black bears ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/further-north-i-met-a-siberian-hermit-who-lived-in-the-foothills-of/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) > [“When a group of people are forced to navigate a minefield together, everyone feels a grudging sense of comfort when someone else gets blown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/when-a-group-of-people-are-forced-to-navigate-a-minefield-together/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) > [“Professor Khupe rubbed his hand along the sand dunes of her windswept form. The static charge made her skin feel like the surface of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/professor-khupe-rubbed-his-hand-along-the-sand-dunes-of-her-windswept/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) > [“The plant and animal kingdoms (excluding humans) offered some pleasant surprises. Organisms from these realms are much simpler to figure out. Their behaviours are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/the-plant-and-animal-kingdoms-excluding-humans-offered-some-pleasant/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) > [“... the successful recruit must be empathetic. This condition rules out the sadistic, the vengeful, and the enthusiastic. Therefore, many of the garden-variety killers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/the-successful-recruit-must-be-empathetic-this-condition-rules-out/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) > [“One candidate who considered applying for the position explained his change of heart: “That job is like unprotected sex. It feels amazing at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/one-candidate-who-considered-applying-for-the-position-explained-his/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) > [“Professor Khupe felt his chest swell with pride. It was doing so without his encouragement. If an electrical fault had stopped the elevator from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/professor-khupe-felt-his-chest-swell-with-pride-it-was-doing-so/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) > [“As they say: A baking man will grasp at a hangman. Whoever gets the job will be dragged into the heat, forced to wear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/as-they-say-a-baking-man-will-grasp-at-a-hangman-whoever-gets-the-job/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) > [“Not all diseases come from bacteria and viruses, Professor. The worst often come from things you cannot see under a microscope. This plant is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/not-all-diseases-come-from-bacteria-and-viruses-professor-the-worst/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) > [“I will not mince words. There’s been enough mincing for one day. Therefore, I shall ask my question bluntly: How does a man know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/i-will-not-mince-words-there-s-been-enough-mincing-for-one-day/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) > [“MUSHAKABVU, I may be in a tough spot, but I am more worried about you. I have never experienced anything close to a sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/mushakabvu-i-may-be-in-a-tough-spot-but-i-am-more-worried-about-you-i/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) > [“... cynicism is the only tool that can scrape away the tint off rose-coloured glasses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/cynicism-is-the-only-tool-that-can-scrape-away-the-tint-off-rose/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) > [“The funnel of my family’s salvation must continue narrowing towards the gallows. That journey cannot begin at the parted tips of another woman’s toes”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/the-funnel-of-my-family-s-salvation-must-continue-narrowing-towards/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) ## More by Taona Dumisani Chiveneko > [“I appreciate the gesture, but you don't have to undress in order to apologize”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/i-appreciate-the-gesture-but-you-don-t-have-to-undress-in-order-to/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) > [“As he was about to press the button to shut the doors, a young woman stepped in. She had that sort of beauty that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/as-he-was-about-to-press-the-button-to-shut-the-doors-a-young-woman/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) > [“... cynicism is the only tool that can scrape away the tint off rose-coloured glasses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/cynicism-is-the-only-tool-that-can-scrape-away-the-tint-off-rose/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) > [“Abel Muranda fought off furious red ants with mandibles that could cut through a miser's padlock.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/abel-muranda-fought-off-furious-red-ants-with-mandibles-that-could/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) > [“MUSHAKABVU, I may be in a tough spot, but I am more worried about you. I have never experienced anything close to a sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/mushakabvu-i-may-be-in-a-tough-spot-but-i-am-more-worried-about-you-i/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) > [“I will not mince words. There’s been enough mincing for one day. Therefore, I shall ask my question bluntly: How does a man know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/i-will-not-mince-words-there-s-been-enough-mincing-for-one-day/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) > [“Not all diseases come from bacteria and viruses, Professor. The worst often come from things you cannot see under a microscope. This plant is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/not-all-diseases-come-from-bacteria-and-viruses-professor-the-worst/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) > [“As they say: A baking man will grasp at a hangman. Whoever gets the job will be dragged into the heat, forced to wear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/as-they-say-a-baking-man-will-grasp-at-a-hangman-whoever-gets-the-job/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) > [“… does a fair trial necessarily amount to a fair outcome?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/does-a-fair-trial-necessarily-amount-to-a-fair-outcome/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) > [“Professor Khupe felt his chest swell with pride. It was doing so without his encouragement. If an electrical fault had stopped the elevator from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/professor-khupe-felt-his-chest-swell-with-pride-it-was-doing-so/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) > [“Your eyes betray a sadness that only a worthy man can conjure, but never solve”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/your-eyes-betray-a-sadness-that-only-a-worthy-man-can-conjure-but/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) > [“One candidate who considered applying for the position explained his change of heart: “That job is like unprotected sex. It feels amazing at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/one-candidate-who-considered-applying-for-the-position-explained-his/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) > [“... the successful recruit must be empathetic. This condition rules out the sadistic, the vengeful, and the enthusiastic. Therefore, many of the garden-variety killers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/the-successful-recruit-must-be-empathetic-this-condition-rules-out/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) > [“The plant and animal kingdoms (excluding humans) offered some pleasant surprises. Organisms from these realms are much simpler to figure out. Their behaviours are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/the-plant-and-animal-kingdoms-excluding-humans-offered-some-pleasant/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) > [“Professor Khupe rubbed his hand along the sand dunes of her windswept form. The static charge made her skin feel like the surface of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/professor-khupe-rubbed-his-hand-along-the-sand-dunes-of-her-windswept/) [Taona Dumisani Chiveneko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) [Explore all 42 Taona Dumisani Chiveneko quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/) ## More Africa quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Africa, being the major target of colonial plunder, therefore becomes a major source of conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-horne/africa-being-the-major-target-of-colonial-plunder-therefore-becomes-a/) [Gerald Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-horne/) > [I'm in 'Madagascar 2.' I'm Testy the Lion. The franchise moves to Africa, and Bernie Mac is also in the film. I loved working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lister-jr/i-m-in-madagascar-2-i-m-testy-the-lion-the-franchise-moves-to-africa/) [Tom Lister, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lister-jr/) > [South Africa needs a second liberation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/south-africa-needs-a-second-liberation/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [There's a place in Botswana where there are 100,000 elephants living in a single population. Think of the amount of space they need. Remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-bergin/there-s-a-place-in-botswana-where-there-are-100-000-elephants-living/) [Patrick Bergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-bergin/) > [If you followed the media you'd think that everybody in Africa was starving to death, and that's not the case; so it's important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/if-you-followed-the-media-you-d-think-that-everybody-in-africa-was/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [Africa for the Africans... at home and abroad!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/africa-for-the-africans-at-home-and-abroad/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [In Africa, animals and the natural landscape allow local communities to support themselves, as there is a constant source of money from tourism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/in-africa-animals-and-the-natural-landscape-allow-local-communities/) [David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/) > [My mom is from Ghana, and my dad is from Detroit, so I would go back and forth to Africa a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-richardson/my-mom-is-from-ghana-and-my-dad-is-from-detroit-so-i-would-go-back/) [Sam Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-richardson/) > [I've never been invited to do an exhibition or do a talk in England, except once, about 10 years ago. I've given talks all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wildsmith/i-ve-never-been-invited-to-do-an-exhibition-or-do-a-talk-in-england/) [Brian Wildsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wildsmith/) > [I represent my country, but I also represent the continent of Africa when I play in Europe. That's why it's important to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaya-toure/i-represent-my-country-but-i-also-represent-the-continent-of-africa/) [Yaya Toure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaya-toure/) > [What we need in South Africa is for egos to be suppressed in favour of peace. We need to create a new breed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hani/what-we-need-in-south-africa-is-for-egos-to-be-suppressed-in-favour/) [Chris Hani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hani/) > [I was learning to track rhinoceroses in Africa and tracked right up on an animal that really I thought was going to kill me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/i-was-learning-to-track-rhinoceroses-in-africa-and-tracked-right-up/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [I am interested in bringing Africa to the foot of the Cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/i-am-interested-in-bringing-africa-to-the-foot-of-the-cross/) [Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/) > [My mother is a huge fan of my work. I told her about 'Coraline' long before the film was made, and she got the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-selick/my-mother-is-a-huge-fan-of-my-work-i-told-her-about-coraline-long/) [Henry Selick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-selick/) [Browse all 1,665 Africa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Being a hangman requires you to take someone else’s life based on someone else’s judgment, and carry it out on someone else’s schedule. The job does not provide the same satisfaction that an ordinary murderer gets from smashing a skull. It robs them of the fulfillment of plunging a knife into someone’s throat. In the world of capital punishment, the prisoner’s crimes have been sanitized by years of sitting on death row. By then, the execution is a cold and impersonal affair. There is prayer, a noose, and a few last words. The prisoner then experiences a sudden rush of blood to the head. At the end of it all, you have a broken neck and a dead body swinging from the end of a rope. That is it. You don’t get to manhandle them with your own hands. That’s why the brutes you mention will never be hired. So you see, Vaida, this is not a job for a murderer. It is a job for a humanitarian.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Taona Dumisani Chiveneko" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/being-a-hangman-requires-you-to-take-someone-else-s-life-based-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Africa" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/being-a-hangman-requires-you-to-take-someone-else-s-life-based-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6db/taona-dumisani-chiveneko-15642_africa_being-a-hangman-requires-you-to-take-som_2571697.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6db/taona-dumisani-chiveneko-15642_africa_being-a-hangman-requires-you-to-take-som_2571697.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6db/taona-dumisani-chiveneko-15642_africa_being-a-hangman-requires-you-to-take-som_2571697.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Being a hangman requires you to take someone else’s life based on someone else’s judgment, and carry it out…” — Taona Dumisani Chiveneko", "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": "Taona Dumisani Chiveneko", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Being a hangman requires you to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/being-a-hangman-requires-you-to-take-someone-else-s-life-based-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taona-dumisani-chiveneko/being-a-hangman-requires-you-to-take-someone-else-s-life-based-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 } } ] } ```