Men are not punished for their sins, but by them.

Men are not punished for their sins, but by them.

Punishment is the last and the least effective instrument in the hands of the legislator for the prevention of crime.

Punishment is the last and the least effective instrument in the hands of the legislator for the prevention of crime.

Punishment is not for revenge, but to lessen crime and reform the
criminal.

Punishment is not for revenge, but to lessen crime and reform the
criminal.

Many a man spanks his children for the things his own father should have spanked out of him.

Many a man spanks his children for the things his own father should have spanked out of him.

Every sin brings its punishment with it.

Every sin brings its punishment with it.

Let the punishment be equal with the offence.
[Lat., Noxiae poena par esto.]

Let the punishment be equal with the offence.
[Lat., Noxiae poena par esto.]

The best of us being unfit to die, what an unexpressible absurdity to put the worst to death.

The best of us being unfit to die, what an unexpressible absurdity to put the worst to death.

Distrust all in whom the impulse to punish is powerful.

Distrust all in whom the impulse to punish is powerful.

Men are rewarded or punished not for what they do but for how their acts are defined. That is why read more

Men are rewarded or punished not for what they do but for how their acts are defined. That is why men are more interested in better justifying themselves than in better behaving themselves.