Miguel de Cervantes Quotes

The wise man will not pardon any crime that ought to be punished, but he will accomplish, in a nobler way, all that is sought in pardoning. He will spare some and watch over some, because of their youth, and others on account of their ignorance. His clemency will not fall short of justice, but will fulfill it perfectly.

A great deal may be done by severity, more by love, but most by clear discernment and impartial justice.

The severest justice may not always be the best policy.

Mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.

The Criminal Code of every country partakes so much of necessary severity that without an easy access to exceptions it in favor of unfortunate guilt, justice would wear it a countenance too sanguinary and cruel.

It is surely better to pardon too much, than to condemn too much.

He who is only just is cruel. Who on earth could live were all judged justly?

Spare me through your mercy, do not punish me through your justice.

The Christian - the biblical - concept of mercy toward wrongdoers only exists in relation to justice. Showing mercy, in relation to wrongdoing, means treating someone better than they deserve.

He who is not just is severe, he who is not wise is sad.

Justice that love gives is a surrender, justice that law gives is a punishment.

The law is cruel.

He who spares the bad injures the good.

To punish the oppressors of humanity is clemency; to forgive them is cruelty.

I sent people to the penitentiary as fast as I could, never thinking about whether they deserved it.

One threatens the innocent who spares the guilty.

Public emergencies may require the hand of severity to fall heavily on those who are not personally guilty, but compassion prompts, and ever urges to milder methods.

It is better to pardon the guilty than to take the lives of the innocent

Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent.

The Judge should be quick of perception; firm of purpose, clear in judgment, lenient in the infliction of penalties; assiduous in the practice of mercy; expeditious in the vindication of the innocent: clement in his treatment of criminals; careful of the rights of the stranger; gentle toward his countrymen. He should be no respecter of (important) persons, and should avoid all appearance of partiality.

Pardon one offence and you encourage the commission of many.

Clemency is patricide

Humanity and good policy conspire to dictate, that the benign prerogative of pardoning should be as little as possible fettered or embarrassed. The criminal code of every country partakes so much of necessary severity, that without an easy access to exceptions in favor of unfortunate guilt, justice would wear a countenance too sanguinary and cruel.

Compassion is no substitute for justice.