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.

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.

It is as expedient that a wicked man be punished as that a sick man be cured by a physician; read more

It is as expedient that a wicked man be punished as that a sick man be cured by a physician; for all chastisement is a kind of medicine.

Let them stew in their own grease (or juice).
- Karl Otto von Schonhausen Bismarck,

Let them stew in their own grease (or juice).
- Karl Otto von Schonhausen Bismarck,

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee
to enter into life maimed, read more

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee
to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell,
into the fire that never shall be quenched:
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

That is the bitterest of all,--to wear the yoke of our own
wrong-doing.

That is the bitterest of all,--to wear the yoke of our own
wrong-doing.

Let the punishment fit the crime

Let the punishment fit the 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.

Punishment is justice for the unjust.

Punishment is justice for the unjust.