For centuries the death penalty, often accompanied by barbarous refinements, has been trying to hold crime in check; yet crime persists. Why? Because the instincts that are warring in man are not, as the law claims, constant forces in a state of equilibrium.

Summary

This quote suggests that despite the use of the death penalty and its brutal methods throughout history, crime continues to exist. The quote questions why this is the case, suggesting that the law's belief that human instincts are stable and balanced is incorrect. It implies that the reasons behind crime are more complex and varied, driven by a range of conflicting human instincts that cannot be easily controlled or restrained by such punishment.