Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill.

Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill.

The quality of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the read more

The quality of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown.
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this scept'red sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings;
It is an attribute to God himself,
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice.

Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy.

Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy.

Too much mercy... often resulted in further crimes which were fatal to innocent victims who need not have been victims read more

Too much mercy... often resulted in further crimes which were fatal to innocent victims who need not have been victims if justice had been put first and mercy second.

Have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

Have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

Our prayer and God's mercy are like two buckets in a well; while the one ascends the other descends.

Our prayer and God's mercy are like two buckets in a well; while the one ascends the other descends.

Mercy is not itself, that oft looks so;
Pardon is still the nurse of second woe.

Mercy is not itself, that oft looks so;
Pardon is still the nurse of second woe.

Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge.

Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge.

Of all the characters of cruelty, I consider the most despicable the one that cloaks himself in a garb of read more

Of all the characters of cruelty, I consider the most despicable the one that cloaks himself in a garb of mercy.