It was only when I lay there on the
It was only when I lay there on the rotting prison straw that I sensed within myself the first stirrings of good. Gradually it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not between states nor between social classes nor between political parties, but right through every human heart, through all human hearts. And that is why I turn back to the years of my imprisonment and say, sometimes to the astonishment of those about me, bless you, prison, for having been a part of my life.
Assassination is the extreme form of
Assassination is the extreme form of censorship.
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.
We shall fight against them, throw them
We shall fight against them, throw them in prisons and destroy them.
One crime is everything; two nothing.
One crime is everything; two nothing.
He who does not prevent a crime when he
He who does not prevent a crime when he can, encourages it.
So justice while she winks at crimes,
So justice while she winks at crimes, Stumbles on innocence sometimes.
We judge ourselves by what we feel
We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done.
I don't like jail, they got the wrong
I don't like jail, they got the wrong kind of bars in there.
To be at peace in crime! Ah, who can
To be at peace in crime! Ah, who can thus flatter himself.
Prison makes you a better judge of
Prison makes you a better judge of character. You pick up on people much faster.
Crimes generally punish themselves.
Crimes generally punish themselves.
Law is merely the expression of the will
Law is merely the expression of the will of the strongest for the time being, and therefore laws have no fixity, but shift from generation to generation.
If we were brought to trial for the
If we were brought to trial for the crimes we have committed against ourselves, few would escape the gallows.
Distrust all in whom the impulse to
Distrust all in whom the impulse to punish is powerful.
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.
Adversities such as being homeless and
Adversities such as being homeless and going to prison has made many people stronger.
How dreadful it is when the right judge
How dreadful it is when the right judge judges wrong.
Crimes lead one into another; they who
Crimes lead one into another; they who are capable of being forgers are capable of being incendiaries.
Do not lay on the multitude the blame
Do not lay on the multitude the blame that is due to a few.
Wicked deeds are generally done, even
Wicked deeds are generally done, even with impunity, for the mere desire of occupation.
Pardon is the virtue of victory.
Pardon is the virtue of victory.
What is crime amongst the multitude, is
What is crime amongst the multitude, is only vice among the few.
I know not whether laws be right, or
I know not whether laws be right, or whether laws be wrong; All that we know who lie in gaol is that the wall is strong; And that each day is like a year, a year whose days are long.
To be in prison so long, it's difficult
To be in prison so long, it's difficult to remember exactly what you did to get there.
