The perfection of a thing consists in its essence; there are perfect criminals, as there are men of perfect probity.
When you are younger you get blamed for crimes you never committed and when you're older you begin to get credit for virtues you never possessed. It evens itself out.
Well, I don't think prisons are the answer to everything, obviously.
In the halls of justice, the only justice is in the halls.
Hard cases, it is said, make bad law.
The worst of prison life, he thought, was not being able to close his door.
Every crime has, in the moment of its perpetration, Its own avenging angel--dark misgiving, An ominous sinking at the inmost heart.
Trial by jury itself, instead of being a security to persons who are accused, shall be a delusion, a mockery, and a snare.
The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons.
It is the spirit and not the form of law that keeps justice alive.
Crimes generally punish themselves.
Fear can be like a prison. It is, however, a self made prison. Many are imprisoned by fear. No one else can liberate them from this prison. Others may inspire them but they must liberate themselves.
Intellectual despair results in neither weakness nor dreams, but in violence. It is only a matter of knowing how to give vent to one's rage; whether one only wants to wander like madmen around prisons, or whether one wants to overturn them.
Oh who is that young sinner with the handcuffs on his wrist? And what has he been after that they groan and shake their fists? And wherefore is he wearing such a conscience-stricken air? Oh they're taking him to prison for the colour of his hair.
Crime is a logical extension of the sort of behavior that often [is] considered perfectly respectable in legitimate business.
Adversities such as being homeless and going to prison has made many people stronger.
Taught from infancy that beauty is woman's sceptre, the mind shapes itself to the body, and roaming round its gilt cage, only seeks to adorn its prison.
The most anxious man in a prison is the governor.
Written laws are like spiders' webs, and will, like them, only entangle and hold the poor and weak, while the rich and powerful will easily break through them.
A just chastisement may benefit a man, though it seldom does; but an unjust one changes all his blood to gall.
He who does not prevent a crime when he can, encourages it.
To trial bring her stolen charms, and let her prison be my arms.
To be in prison so long, it's difficult to remember exactly what you did to get there.
When I was in prison, I was wrapped up in all those deep books. That Tolstoy crap - people shouldn't read that stuff.
Some laws of state aimed at curbing crime are even more criminal.
