The time will come when all people will view with horror light way in which society and its courts of law now take human life; and when that time comes, the way will be clear to device some better method of dealing with poverty and ignorance and their frequent byproducts, which we call crime.
Interpretation
Society will eventually recognize the flaws in how it handles life and crime, leading to improved methods for addressing poverty and ignorance.
In this quote, Clarence Darrow emphasizes the need for a societal shift in perspective regarding the value of human life and the existing judicial response to crime. He predicts that a time will come when people will be horrified by the current methods of dealing with crime, which often stems from deeper issues like poverty and ignorance, thereby prompting society to seek more humane and effective solutions.
In practice
During a debate on criminal justice reform, one could use this quote to illustrate the need for change.
With all their faults, trade unions have done more for humanity than any other organization of men that ever existed. They have done more for decency, for honesty, for education, for the betterment of the race, for the developing of character in men, than any other association of men.
Do I need to argue to Your Honor that cruelty only breeds cruelty? That hatred only causes hatred; that if there is any way to soften this human heart which is hard enough at its best, if there is any way to kill evil and hatred and all that goes with it, it is not through evil and hatred and cruelty; it is through charity, and love, and understanding?
Chase after the truth like all hell.
No other offense has ever been visited with such severe penalties as seeking to help the oppressed.
Liberty is the most jealous and exacting mistress that can beguile the brain and soul of man. She will have nothing from him who will not give her all. She knows that his pretended love serves but to betray. But when once the fierce heat of her quenchless, lustrous eyes have burned into the victim's heart, he will know no other smile but hers.
The trouble with law is lawyers.
What delights us in visible beauty is the invisible.
My aim in helping the patient was not to cause death. My aim was to end suffering. It's got to be decriminalized.
This awful concept of underclass is really horrifying. You're not lower class, you are excluded - outside.
A beggar's book outworths a noble's blood.
If the other fellow can't tell you his story, you can never be sure he isn't trying to kill you.
Although the time of death is approaching me, I am not afraid of dying and going to Hell or (what would be considerably worse) going to the popularized version of Heaven. I expect death to be nothingness and, for removing me from all possible fears of death, I am thankful to atheism.
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