Quotes

Self is the only prison that can bind the soul.

Oh who is that young sinner with the handcuffs on his wrist? And what has he been after that they groan and shake their fists? And wherefore is he wearing such a conscience-stricken air? Oh they're taking him to prison for the colour of his hair.

Only free men can negotiate. Prisoners cannot enter into contracts.

I was in prison, and you came unto me. Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
~(Jesus Christ) Matthew 25:36, 40

Crimes generally punish themselves.

History is full of people who went to prison or were burned at the stake for proclaiming their ideas. Society has always defended itself.

Let us remember that justice must be observed even to the lowest.

The reformative effect of punishment is a belief that dies hard, chiefly I think, because it is so satisfying to our sadistic impulses.

A man who has no excuse for a crime, is indeed defenseless!

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.

Assassination is the extreme form of censorship.

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

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.

Laws do not persuade just because they threaten.

I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law.

He who opens a school door, closes a prison.

What restrains us from killing is partly fear of punishment, partly moral scruple, and partly what may be described as a sense of humor.

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

In a civilized society, all crimes are likely to be sins, but most sins are not and ought not to be treated as crimes.

One man meets an infamous punishment for that crime which confers a diadem upon another.

Women have worked hard; starved in prison; given of their time and lives that we might sit in the House of Commons and take part in the legislating of this country.

No obligation to justice does force a man to be cruel, or to use the sharpest sentence.

Some laws of state aimed at curbing crime are even more criminal.

Every crime has, in the moment of its perpetration, Its own avenging angel--dark misgiving, An ominous sinking at the inmost heart.

We shall not yield to violence. We shall not be deprived of union freedoms. We shall never agree with sending people to prison for their convictions.