I existed in a world that never is - the
I existed in a world that never is - the prison of the mind.
The solution to our drug problem is not
The solution to our drug problem is not in incarceration.
The law does not pretend to punish
The law does not pretend to punish everything that is dishonest. That would seriously interfere with business.
There are few better measures of the
There are few better measures of the concern a society has for its individual members and its own well being than the way it handles criminals.
Prison, dungeons, blessed places where
Prison, dungeons, blessed places where evil is impossible because they are the crossroads of all the evil in the world. One cannot commit evil in hell.
Virtue pardons the wicked, as the
Virtue pardons the wicked, as the sandal-tree perfumes the axe which strikes it.
Every instance of a man's suffering the
Every instance of a man's suffering the penalty of the law is an instance of the failure of that penalty in effecting its purpose, which is to deter.
We shall fight against them, throw them
We shall fight against them, throw them in prisons and destroy them.
Wicked deeds are generally done, even
Wicked deeds are generally done, even with impunity, for the mere desire of occupation.
The world itself is but a large prison,
The world itself is but a large prison, out of which some are daily led to execution.
Nelson Mandela and Malcolm X came out of
Nelson Mandela and Malcolm X came out of prison stronger.
Whatever is worthy to be loved for
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 was in prison, and you came unto me.
I was in prison, and you came unto me. Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
~(Jesus Christ) Matthew 25:36, 40
Civilization is maintained by a very few
Civilization is maintained by a very few people in a small number of places and we need only some bombs and a few prisons to blot it out altogether.
The only real prison is fear, and the
The only real prison is fear, and the only real freedom is freedom from fear.
As we grow in wisdom, we pardon more
As we grow in wisdom, we pardon more freely.
A variety in punishment is of utility,
A variety in punishment is of utility, as well as a proportion.
The number of laws is constantly growing
The number of laws is constantly growing in all countries and, owing to this, what is called crime is very often not a crime at all, for it contains no element of violence or harm.
Some laws of state aimed at curbing
Some laws of state aimed at curbing crime are even more criminal.
Laws grind the poor, and rich men rule
Laws grind the poor, and rich men rule the law.
A man who has no excuse for a crime, is
A man who has no excuse for a crime, is indeed defenseless!
Whatever you think of de Sade, he was a
Whatever you think of de Sade, he was a complex figure and we should not look for easy answers with him. He was, strangely perhaps, against the death penalty, and he was never put in prison for murders or anything like that.
No written law has been more binding
No written law has been more binding than unwritten custom supported by popular opinion.
To be at peace in crime! Ah, who can
To be at peace in crime! Ah, who can thus flatter himself.
One man meets an infamous punishment for
One man meets an infamous punishment for that crime which confers a diadem upon another.
