Let us remember that justice must be
Let us remember that justice must be observed even to the lowest.
Liberty is rendered even more precious
Liberty is rendered even more precious by the recollection of servitude.
It is not at the table, but in prison,
It is not at the table, but in prison, that you learn who your true friends are.
When the Nazis came for the communists,
When the Nazis came for the communists, I remained silent; I was not a communist. When they locked up the social democrats, I remained silent; I was not a social democrat. When they came for the trade unionists, I did not speak out; I was not a trade unionist. When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out.
Laws grind the poor, and rich men rule
Laws grind the poor, and rich men rule the law.
The only real prison is fear, and the
The only real prison is fear, and the only real freedom is freedom from fear.
Virtue pardons the wicked, as the
Virtue pardons the wicked, as the sandal-tree perfumes the axe which strikes it.
Corporal punishment falls far more
Corporal punishment falls far more heavily than most weighty pecuniary penalty.
Since 1957, black people have
Since 1957, black people have experienced double-digit unemployment - in good times and bad times. Look at the population of African Americans in prison. They represent more than half the population of prisoners in the country, 55 percent of those on death row.
If you share the crime of your friend,
If you share the crime of your friend, you make it your own.
Hanging was the worst use a man could be
Hanging was the worst use a man could be put to.
Crime is a logical extension of the sort
Crime is a logical extension of the sort of behavior that often [is] considered perfectly respectable in legitimate business.
Clemency alone makes us equal to the
Clemency alone makes us equal to the gods.
We're in a war. People who blast some
We're in a war. People who blast some pot on a casual basis are guilty of treason.
Overlook our deeds, since you know that
Overlook our deeds, since you know that crime was absent from our inclination.
I know how men in exile feed on dreams
I know how men in exile feed on dreams of hope.
Some laws of state aimed at curbing
Some laws of state aimed at curbing crime are even more criminal.
When I was in prison, I was wrapped up
When I was in prison, I was wrapped up in all those deep books. That Tolstoy crap - people shouldn't read that stuff.
A country is in a bad state, which is
A country is in a bad state, which is governed only by laws; because a thousand things occur for which laws cannot provide, and where authority ought to interpose.
How dreadful it is when the right judge
How dreadful it is when the right judge judges wrong.
The best situation of all, and one
The best situation of all, and one frequently utilized, is for jails and prisons to allow volunteer ministers of all faiths to enter prisons and offer their services to the inmates who want them. That way, the religious needs of inmates are met but without government funds being spent.
The punishment can be remitted; the
The punishment can be remitted; the crime is everlasting.
The reformative effect of punishment is
The reformative effect of punishment is a belief that dies hard, chiefly I think, because it is so satisfying to our sadistic impulses.
Extreme justice is extreme injustice.
Extreme justice is extreme injustice.
Fast closed with double grills
Fast closed with double grills
And triple gates – the cell
To wicked souls is hell;
But to a mind that's innocent
'Tis only iron, wood and stone.