Lewis B. Smedes Quotes

Let no guilty man escape, if it can be avoided. No personal considerations should stand in the way of performing a public duty.

Let me remember, when I find myself inclined to pity a criminal, that there is likewise a pity due to the country.

Laws can embody standards; governments can enforce laws—but the final task is not a task for government. It is a task for each and every one of us. Every time we turn our heads the other way when we see the law flouted—when we tolerate what we know to be wrong—when we close our eyes and ears to the corrupt because we are too busy, or too frightened—when we fail to speak up and speak out—we strike a blow against freedom and decency and justice.

The capture of Saddam Hussein has proven to the bad ones, to the guilty ones, to the sinful ones that they cannot run forever. Sooner or later, the other criminals will also be found from their hideouts.

The law is bigger than money - but only if the law works hard enough.

I followed the law. Before God, before the law, before the people of the state of Florida who elected me, I know that I followed the law.

We as a Congress have a moral obligation to bring justice to the families of these victims. Furthermore, as a society based on laws, we have a responsibility to ensure that criminals don't go unpunished.

Our sense of fairness tells us that people should pay for the wrong they do.

The message has to be sent that if you commit a crime there has to be punishment.

I believe in justice, and I believe in people being held responsible for their actions.

A Brahmana who knows the law need not bring any offence to the notice of the king; by his own power alone be can punish those men who injure him.

The man who was excellent, I rewarded him well; who was evil, I punished him well.

Criminals are not the victims of society; society is the victim of criminals.

Law is not self-executing. Unfortunately, at times its execution rests in the hands of those who are faithless to it. And even when its enforcement is committed to those who revere it, law merely deters some human beings from offending, and punishes other human beings for offending. This does not make men good. This task can be performed only by ethics or religion or morality.

Because just as good morals, if they are to be maintained, have need of the laws, so the laws, if they are to be observed, have need of good morals.

All judges had rather that ten innocent should suffer than that one guilty should escape

Human laws are entirely destitute of the sanction of rewards. To confer honors for obedience would be as ridiculous as unavailing. The honor of many would resolve itself into the honor of none. To dispense pecuniary rewards would be nugatory or impracticable. In an unqualified extent, no government would be able to supply the funds; and even in a restricted form, its operation would be to receive money with one hand as a premium, and to pay it back with the other in the shape of a tax.

I know some say, let us have good laws, and no matter for the men that execute them: but let them consider, that though good laws do well, good men do better: for good laws may want good men, and be abolished or evaded by ill mend but good men will never want good laws, nor suffer ill ones.

The superior man governs men, according to their nature, with what is proper to them, and as soon as they change what is wrong, he stops.

The net of law is spread so wide, No sinner from its sweep may hide. Its meshes are so fine and strong They take in every child of wrong. O wondrous web of mystery ! Big fish alone escape from thee !

I often feel that with a crime story, the moral standards have to be higher. You're deal with real victims and with real consequences.

There's no excuse for breaking the law.

As a judge, I held people accountable when they did wrong. That's why I cracked down on violent criminals and stopped the big banks when they tried to kick families out of their homes.

Some emotions are essential to law and to public principles of justice: anger at wrongdoing, fear for our safety, compassion for the pain of others, all these are good reasons to make laws that protect people in their rights.

As people, we have to take the law's side. We have to stand behind the police, not behind the criminal.