There are few better measures of the concern a society has for its individual members and its own well being read more

There are few better measures of the concern a society has for its individual members and its own well being than the way it handles criminals.

I am mortified to be told that, in the United States of America, the sale of a book can become read more

I am mortified to be told that, in the United States of America, the sale of a book can become a subject of inquiry, and of criminal inquiry too.

Whenever man commits a crime heaven finds a witness.

Whenever man commits a crime heaven finds a witness.

Many commit the same crimes with a very different result. One
bears a cross for his crime; another a read more

Many commit the same crimes with a very different result. One
bears a cross for his crime; another a crown.
[Lat., Multi committunt eadem diverso crimina fato;
Ille crucem scleris pretium tulit, hic diadema.]

If you share your friend's crime, you make it your own

If you share your friend's crime, you make it your own

Overlook our deeds, since you know that crime was absent from our
inclination.
[Lat., Factis ignoscite nostris
read more

Overlook our deeds, since you know that crime was absent from our
inclination.
[Lat., Factis ignoscite nostris
Si scelus ingenio scitis abesse meo.]

Providence sees to it that no man gets happiness out of crime.

Providence sees to it that no man gets happiness out of crime.

The greatest crimes do not arise from a want of feeling for others but from an over-sensibility for ourselves and read more

The greatest crimes do not arise from a want of feeling for others but from an over-sensibility for ourselves and an over-indulgence to our own desires

Successful crime is dignified with the name of virtue; the good
become the slaves of the impious; might makes read more

Successful crime is dignified with the name of virtue; the good
become the slaves of the impious; might makes right; fear
silences the power of the law.
[Lat., Prosperum ac felix scelus
Virtus vocatur; sontibus patent boni;
Jus est in armis, opprimit leges timor.]