Wicked deeds are generally done, even
Wicked deeds are generally done, even with impunity, for the mere desire of occupation.
Most people fancy themselves innocent of
Society prepares the crime; the criminal
Society prepares the crime; the criminal commits it.
Distrust all in whom the impulse to
Distrust all in whom the impulse to punish is powerful.
Pardon is the virtue of victory.
Pardon is the virtue of victory.
No obligation to justice does force a
No obligation to justice does force a man to be cruel, or to use the sharpest sentence.
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.
Kill a man, and you are an assassin.
Kill a man, and you are an assassin. Kill millions of men, and you are a conqueror. Kill everyone, and you are a God.
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.
We who live in prison, and in whose
We who live in prison, and in whose lives there is no event but sorrow, have to measure time by throbs of pain, and the record of bitter moments.
So justice while she winks at crimes,
So justice while she winks at crimes, Stumbles on innocence sometimes.
You utter a vow, or forge a signature,
You utter a vow, or forge a signature, and you may find yourself bound for life to a monastery, a woman, or prison.
The degree of civilization in a society
The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons.
I have been studying how I may compare
I have been studying how I may compare This prison where I live unto the world; And, for because the world is populous, And here is not a creature but myself, I cannot do it. Yet I'll hammer it out.
Nelson Mandela and Malcolm X came out of
Nelson Mandela and Malcolm X came out of prison stronger.
What is crime amongst the multitude, is
What is crime amongst the multitude, is only vice among the few.
In the halls of justice, the only
In the halls of justice, the only justice is in the halls.
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.
Fear can be like a prison. It is,
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.
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.
Written laws are like spiders' webs, and
Written laws are like spiders' webs, and will, like them, only entangle and hold the poor and weak, while the rich and powerful will easily break through them.
It is better that ten guilty persons
It is better that ten guilty persons escape, than that one innocent suffer.
The torment of human frustration,
The torment of human frustration, whatever its immediate cause, is the knowledge that the self is in prison, its vital force and 'mangled mind' leaking away in lonely, wasteful self-conflict.
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.
