--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In our case, murder being once for all…" description: "\"In our case, murder being once for all forbidden, we may not destroy even the fetus in the womb, while as yet the human being derives blood from other ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb3/tertullian-3469_abortion_in-our-case-murder-being-once-for-all-fo_985403.jpg" --- # In our case, murder being once for all forbidden, we may… ![“In our case, murder being once for all forbidden, we may not destroy even the fetus in the womb, while as yet the human being derives blood from other parts of the body for its sustenance. To hinder birth is merely a speedier man-killing; nor does it matter whether you take away a life that is…” quote by Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb3/tertullian-3469_abortion_in-our-case-murder-being-once-for-all-fo_985403.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb3/tertullian-3469_abortion_in-our-case-murder-being-once-for-all-fo_985403.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb3/tertullian-3469_abortion_in-our-case-murder-being-once-for-all-fo_985403.jpg) > “In our case, murder being once for all forbidden, we may not destroy even the fetus in the womb, while as yet the human being derives blood from other parts of the body for its sustenance. To hinder birth is merely a speedier man-killing; nor does it matter whether you take away a life that is born, or destroy one that is coming to the birth. That is a man which is going to be one; you have the fruit already in the seed.” [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that preventing birth is equivalent to killing a future life; life’s potential exists from conception. **In simple terms:** Preventing birth is like killing a future person. Key Takeaway Respect potential life. Themes ethics life procreation Mood reflective serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - abortion debates - medical ethics - pro‑life activism - fertility treatments Key Concepts philosophy theology Questions to Reflect On - What defines the beginning of personhood? - How balance potential life with personal rights? A Different Perspective The argument may overlook women's autonomy and societal contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) [Birth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Fruit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fruit/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder/) [Parts of the body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parts-of-the-body/) [Sustenance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sustenance/) [Womb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/womb/) ## Related quotes > [If it seems more horrible to kill a man in his own house, then in a field,...it ought surely to be deemed more atrocious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/if-it-seems-more-horrible-to-kill-a-man-in-his-own-house-then-in-a/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [For the fetus, though enclosed in the womb of its mother, is already a human being, and it is a monstrous crime to rob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/for-the-fetus-though-enclosed-in-the-womb-of-its-mother-is-already-a/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [To destroy the fetus 'is something worse than murder.' The one who does this 'does not take away life that has already been born,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/to-destroy-the-fetus-is-something-worse-than-murder-the-one-who-does/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [Death is much simpler than birth; it is merely a continuation. Birth is the mystery, not death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-edward-white/death-is-much-simpler-than-birth-it-is-merely-a-continuation-birth-is/) Stewart Edward White > [“new birth is not merely an adjustment of lifestyle. New birth is a miracle of recreation. New birth is a regeneration, a restoration of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-oyedepo/new-birth-is-not-merely-an-adjustment-of-lifestyle-new-birth-is-a/) [David O. Oyedepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-oyedepo/) > [The first path a human being ever travels is the path that leads out of the maternal womb. Every human being's first labyrinth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-attali/the-first-path-a-human-being-ever-travels-is-the-path-that-leads-out/) [Jacques Attali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-attali/) > [I am sure that all people know deep down inside that the little child in the mother's womb is a human being from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/i-am-sure-that-all-people-know-deep-down-inside-that-the-little-child/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [“the first Goddess, Gaia, who was the earth, wide hipped, big bellied, the womb of the human race, the nurturing breast of all humans,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-greenwood/the-first-goddess-gaia-who-was-the-earth-wide-hipped-big-bellied-the/) [Kerry Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-greenwood/) > [Before, I'd photograph anything. I didn't think there was anything more or less obscene about any part of the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jock-sturges/before-i-d-photograph-anything-i-didn-t-think-there-was-anything-more/) [Jock Sturges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jock-sturges/) > [I learned...every part of the body; I would move each part as I memorized it. As a child, I would lie in the woods…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pilates/i-learned-every-part-of-the-body-i-would-move-each-part-as-i/) [Joseph Pilates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pilates/) > [Temperament is fixed, set. The skull, followed by the temperament: the two hardest parts of the body. Follow your temperament. It is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/temperament-is-fixed-set-the-skull-followed-by-the-temperament-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Aging nations have arteries clogged with obsolete laws, slowing blood flow and preventing oxygen from reaching all parts of the body politic. Physicians call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/aging-nations-have-arteries-clogged-with-obsolete-laws-slowing-blood/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [There was such a relationship between the buffalo and the American Indian - the Indians would eat them, live inside their pelts, use every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/there-was-such-a-relationship-between-the-buffalo-and-the-american/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [You don't understand. I only prostitute the part of the body that isn't important, and nobody suffers except my karma a little bit. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burdett/you-don-t-understand-i-only-prostitute-the-part-of-the-body-that-isn/) [John Burdett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burdett/) > [If you do not use a muscle or any part of the body, it tends to become atrophic. So is the case with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/if-you-do-not-use-a-muscle-or-any-part-of-the-body-it-tends-to-become/) [Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) ## More by Tertullian > [The soul whose bosom lust did never touch Is God's fair bride; and maiden's souls are such.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/the-soul-whose-bosom-lust-did-never-touch-is-god-s-fair-bride-and/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [You can't undo anything you've already done, but you can face up to it. You can tell the truth. You can seek forgiveness. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/you-can-t-undo-anything-you-ve-already-done-but-you-can-face-up-to-it/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [Indeed it is better to postpone, lest either we complete too little by hurrying, or wander too long in completing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/indeed-it-is-better-to-postpone-lest-either-we-complete-too-little-by/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [A man becomes a Christian, he is not born one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/a-man-becomes-a-christian-he-is-not-born-one/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [The Word, then, the Christ, is the cause both of our ancient beginning, for lie was in God, and of our well-being. And now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/the-word-then-the-christ-is-the-cause-both-of-our-ancient-beginning/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [But now inquiry is being made concerning these issues. First, can any believer enlist in the military? Second, can any soldier, even those of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/but-now-inquiry-is-being-made-concerning-these-issues-first-can-any/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [Let women paint their eyes with tints of chastity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/let-women-paint-their-eyes-with-tints-of-chastity/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/the-blood-of-the-martyrs-is-the-seed-of-the-church/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [It is certainly no part of religion to compel religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/it-is-certainly-no-part-of-religion-to-compel-religion/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [Now then, you dogs, whom the apostle puts outside and who yelp at the God of truth, let us come to your various questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/now-then-you-dogs-whom-the-apostle-puts-outside-and-who-yelp-at-the/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [Hope is patience with the lamp lit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/hope-is-patience-with-the-lamp-lit/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [What has Athens to do with Jerusalem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/what-has-athens-to-do-with-jerusalem/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [God the Father's a deep root; the Son's the shoot that breaks into the world; the Spirit spreads the beauty & fragrance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/god-the-father-s-a-deep-root-the-son-s-the-shoot-that-breaks-into-the/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [The nature of rumor is known to all](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/the-nature-of-rumor-is-known-to-all/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [Prevention of birth is premature murder, and it makes no difference whether it is a life already born that one snatches away or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/prevention-of-birth-is-premature-murder-and-it-makes-no-difference/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) [Explore all 130 Tertullian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) ## More Abortion quotes > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974 > [Hey everyone, in case y'all didn't hear, I'm pregnat, and after discussing it w/ my family, I've decided to get an abortion, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-badesheim/hey-everyone-in-case-y-all-didn-t-hear-i-m-pregnat-and-after/) Madison Badesheim > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [My favorite Founding Fathers, Christians like John Adams, were absolutely appalled by slavery, and did not own slaves. I think we're going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/my-favorite-founding-fathers-christians-like-john-adams-were/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [“David Bereit, Founder of Forty Days for Life, points out that any abortion clinic in America should have a sign in its window that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-price/david-bereit-founder-of-forty-days-for-life-points-out-that-any/) [John Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-price/) > [The Chinese describe themselves as political refugees. Many base that claim on China's strict population laws, which allow them to have only one child.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/the-chinese-describe-themselves-as-political-refugees-many-base-that/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [I'm a pro-life candidate because I believe that science is proving us right every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-m-a-pro-life-candidate-because-i-believe-that-science-is-proving-us/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [I've noticed that everyone who is for abortion…has been born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-noticed-that-everyone-who-is-for-abortion-has-been-born/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [We talk a lot about how abortion is a medical procedure, but actually if you look at what the other side is doing, they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-northup/we-talk-a-lot-about-how-abortion-is-a-medical-procedure-but-actually/) [Nancy Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-northup/) > [“The Vatican won't prosecute pedophile priests but I decide I'm not ready for motherhood and it's condemnation for me? These are the same people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-renee-taylor/the-vatican-won-t-prosecute-pedophile-priests-but-i-decide-i-m-not/) Sonya Renee Taylor > [Pro-lifers have long been castigated for bringing private values into the public square. But actually it is the pro-abortion position that is based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/pro-lifers-have-long-been-castigated-for-bringing-private-values-into/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [I am 100 percent pro-life and have been my whole life. That means I am opposed to abortion at any stage of pregnancy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hawley/i-am-100-percent-pro-life-and-have-been-my-whole-life-that-means-i-am/) [Josh Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hawley/) > [Any woman should have the right to a safe and legal abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-ford/any-woman-should-have-the-right-to-a-safe-and-legal-abortion/) [Betty Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-ford/) > [“For Republicans, life begins at conception but ends at birth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-adam-snyder/for-republicans-life-begins-at-conception-but-ends-at-birth/) [J.Adam Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-adam-snyder/) > [I think fundamentally, the real power behind the anti-choice movement in regard to abortion and the opposition to the rights of LGBT Americans is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-w-lynn/i-think-fundamentally-the-real-power-behind-the-anti-choice-movement/) [Barry W. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-w-lynn/) [Browse all 1,629 Abortion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In our case, murder being once for all forbidden, we may not destroy even the fetus in the womb, while as yet the human being derives blood from other parts of the body for its sustenance. To hinder birth is merely a speedier man-killing; nor does it matter whether you take away a life that is born, or destroy one that is coming to the birth. 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