Quotes

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.

Once we are destined to live out our lives in the prison of our mind, our duty is to furnish it well.

Hanging was the worst use a man could be put to.

Here the great art lies, to discern in what the law is to be to restraint and punishment, and in what things persuasion only is to work.

Those magistrates who can prevent crime, and do not, in effect encourage it.

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.

Care should be taken that the punishment does not exceed the guilt; and also that some men do not suffer for offenses for which others are not even indicted.

Overlook our deeds, since you know that crime was absent from our inclination.

The object of punishment is prevention from evil; it never can be made impulsive to good.

The only effect of public punishment is to show the rabble how bravely it can be borne; and that every one who hath lost a toe-nail hath suffered worse.

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

In prison, you get the chance to see who really loves you.

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

Show me the prison, Show me the jail, Show me the prisoner whose life has gone stale. And I'll show you a young man with so many reasons why And there, but for fortune, go you or I.

To trial bring her stolen charms, and let her prison be my arms.

Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds.

If punishment reaches not the mind and makes not the will supple, it hardens the offender.

I can work for the Lord in or out of prison.

A sick person is a prisoner.

How dreadful it is when the right judge judges wrong.

I know how men in exile feed on dreams of hope.

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

Crimes generally punish themselves.

We don't seem to be able to check crime, so why not legalize it and then tax it out of business.

We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done.