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.
Clemency alone makes us equal to the
Clemency alone makes us equal to the gods.
Hanging was the worst use a man could be
Hanging was the worst use a man could be put to.
The law does not pretend to punish
The law does not pretend to punish everything that is dishonest. That would seriously interfere with business.
It becomes not a law-maker to be a
It becomes not a law-maker to be a law-breaker.
Laws grind the poor, and rich men rule
Laws grind the poor, and rich men rule the law.
No man survives when freedom fails. The
No man survives when freedom fails. The best men rot in filthy jails, and those who cry 'appease, appease' are hanged by those they tried to please.
I just remember that disturbing feeling
I just remember that disturbing feeling of walking into that prison, the complete loss of privacy, the complete loss of stimulation, dignity.
Three hundred years ago a prisoner
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.”
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.
On average, drug prisoners spend more
On average, drug prisoners spend more time in federal prison than rapists, who often get out on early release because of the overcrowding in prison caused by the Drug War.
Wherever any one is against his will,
Wherever any one is against his will, that is to him a prison.
Men are not prisoners of fate, but only
Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds.
Taught from infancy that beauty is
Taught from infancy that beauty is woman's sceptre, the mind shapes itself to the body, and roaming round its gilt cage, only seeks to adorn its prison.
Punishment, that is the justice for the
Punishment, that is the justice for the unjust.
The penalty for laughing in a courtroom
The penalty for laughing in a courtroom is six months in jail; if it were not for this penalty, the jury would never hear the evidence.
Overlook our deeds, since you know that
Overlook our deeds, since you know that crime was absent from our inclination.
What restrains us from killing is partly
What restrains us from killing is partly fear of punishment, partly moral scruple, and partly what may be described as a sense of humor.
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.
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.
The perfection of a thing consists in
The perfection of a thing consists in its essence; there are perfect criminals, as there are men of perfect probity.
Care should be taken that the punishment
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.
We shall fight against them, throw them
We shall fight against them, throw them in prisons and destroy them.
To trial bring her stolen charms, and
To trial bring her stolen charms, and let her prison be my arms.
If you want total security, go to
If you want total security, go to prison. There you’re fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking…is freedom.
