Battle Quote by William J. Brennan
“At bottom, the battle has been waged on moral grounds. The country has debated whether a society for which the dignity of the individual is the supreme value can, without a fundamental inconsistency, follow the practice of deliberately putting one of its members to death.”
About This Quote
Source Court Opinion: Furman v. Georgia, 1972
The moral debate over capital punishment questions whether a society valuing individual dignity can justify state‑sanctioned killing.
In simple terms: Capital punishment conflicts with the principle of individual dignity.
Key Takeaway
Weigh the ethical consistency of upholding dignity while imposing death.
Themes
ethics
law
human rights
capital punishment
justice
Mood
serious
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
legal
ethical
When to use this quote
- policy reform
- legal education
- human rights advocacy
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
constitutional law
societal values
Questions to Reflect On
- Is it possible to reconcile dignity with capital punishment?
- What alternatives address justice without execution?
A Different Perspective
Societal values evolve, potentially reshaping the debate.
![“The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the formulas of nations at war, where any heinousness is justified on the grounds that the enemy is either an inferior [part of the] species or…” quote by Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/895/kate-millett-7301_accompany_the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imp_8896.jpg)
