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.

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

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

See they suffer death,
But in their deaths remember they are men,
Strain not the laws to read more

See they suffer death,
But in their deaths remember they are men,
Strain not the laws to make their tortures grievous.

Let the punishment fit the crime

Let the punishment fit the crime

Crime and punishment grow out of one stem.

Crime and punishment grow out of one stem.

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.]

Care should be taken that the punishment does not exceed the
guilt; and also that some men do not read more

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.
[Lat., Cavendum est ne major poena quam culpa sit; et ne iisdem
de causis alii plectantur, alii ne appellentur quidem.]

When the gods wish to punish us, they answer our prayers.

When the gods wish to punish us, they answer our prayers.

Frieth in his own grease.

Frieth in his own grease.