Three hundred years ago a prisoner condemned to the Tower of London carved on the wall of his cell this sentiment to keep up his spirits during his long imprisonment: “It is not adversity that kills, but the impatience with which we bear adversity.”
The public have more interest in the punishment of an injury than he who receives it.
As we grow in wisdom, we pardon more freely.
When I was in prison, I was wrapped up in all those deep books. That Tolstoy crap - people shouldn't read that stuff.
Women now have choices. They can be married, not married, have a job, not have a job, be married with children, unmarried with children. Men have the same choice we've always had: work, or prison.
Some laws of state aimed at curbing crime are even more criminal.
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.
The only difference between me and my fellow actors is that I've spent more time in jail.
The object of punishment is prevention from evil; it never can be made impulsive to good.
Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds.
Everyone is a prisoner of his own experiences. No one can eliminate prejudices - just recognize them.
I wrote a million words in the first year, and I could never have done that outside of prison.
When I was in prison, I was wrapped up in all those deep books. That Tolstoy crap - people shouldn't read that stuff.
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.
America is the land of the second chance – and when the gates of the prison open, the path ahead should lead to a better life.
It is not at the table, but in prison, that you learn who your true friends are.
He had drawn many a thousand of these rations in prisons and camps, and though he'd never had an opportunity to weight them on scales, and although, being a man of timid nature, he knew no way of standing up for his rights, he, like every other prisoner, had discovered long ago that honest weight was never to be found in the bread-cutting. There was short weight in every ration. The only point was how short. So every day you took a look to soothe your soul - today, maybe, they haven't snitched any.
Liberty is rendered even more precious by the recollection of servitude.
Laws do not persuade just because they threaten.
Vices are not crimes.
Crime is a logical extension of the sort of behavior that often [is] considered perfectly respectable in legitimate business.
Those magistrates who can prevent crime, and do not, in effect encourage it.
Justice renders to every one his due.
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.
If you share the crime of your friend, you make it your own.
