Quotes

Trial by jury itself, instead of being a security to persons who are accused, shall be a delusion, a mockery, and a snare.

Reality becomes a prison to those who can’t get out of it.

Nor stony tower, nor walls of beaten brass, Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron, Can be retentive to the strength of spirit; But life, being weary of these worldly bars, Never lacks power to dismiss itself.

When it comes to freedom, we are but prisoners of our own desires.

They're not supposed to show prison films in prison. Especially ones that are about escaping.

I existed in a world that never is - the prison of the mind.

It is the spirit and not the form of law that keeps justice alive.

Any punishment that does not correct, that can merely rouse rebellion in whoever has to endure it, is a piece of gratuitous infamy which makes those who impose it more guilty in the eyes of humanity, good sense and reason, nay a hundred times more guilty than the victim on whom the punishment is inflicted.

While crime is punished it yet increases.

To seek the redress of grievances by going to law, is like sheep running for shelter to a bramble bush.

The only difference between me and my fellow actors is that I've spent more time in jail.

Nothing can be more abhorrent to democracy than to imprison a person or keep him in prison because he is unpopular. This is really the test of civilization.

Nor cell, nor chain, nor dungeon speaks to the murderer like the voice of solitude.

A sick person is a prisoner.

Crime is a logical extension of the sort of behavior that often [is] considered perfectly respectable in legitimate business.

When is conduct a crime, and when is a crime not a crime? When Somebody Up There -- a monarch, a dictator, a Pope, a legislator -- so decrees.

Laws grind the poor, and rich men rule the law.

The English laws punish vice; the Chinese laws do more, they reward virtue.

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.

Whatever is worthy to be loved for anything is worthy of preservation. A wise and dispassionate legislator, if any such should ever arise among men, will not condemn to death him who has done or is likely to do more service than injury to society. Blocks and gibbets are the nearest objects with legislators, and their business is never with hopes or with virtues.

I asked a man in prison once how he happened to be there and he said he had stolen a pair of shoes. I told him if he had stolen a railroad he would be a United States Senator.

We're in a war. People who blast some pot on a casual basis are guilty of treason.

In a civilized society, all crimes are likely to be sins, but most sins are not and ought not to be treated as crimes.

Vices are not crimes.