Jean Bodin Quotes

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

The severest justice may not always be the best policy.

Laws too gentle are seldom obeyed; too severe, seldom executed.

He who spares the bad injures the good.

Common sense and history tell you that rewarding illegal behavior will only encourage more of it.

Every law must be just in every part of it, but if the penalty annexed be unjust, how can it be held forth as a just law?

In all governments fear is recognized as one of the grounds for the enforcement of law. In even the freest nations and under the highest form of civilization the public opinion that administers law makes its demand partly in the interest of essential right, partly with the instinct of self-preservation against the forces of evil, and partly for the punishment of wrong. Punishment in itself is not reformatory; it is retributive; it is deterrent; it plays upon fear.

In primitive Buddhism, in primitive Christianity, in the writings of some of the Moslem teachers, in the early movements of the Reform, and especially in the ethical and philosophical movements of the last century and of our own times, the total abandonment of the idea of revenge, or of "due reward" — of good for good and evil for evil — is affirmed more and more vigorously. The higher conception of "no revenge for wrongs," and of freely giving more than one expects to receive from his neighbors, is proclaimed as being the real principle of morality — a principle superior to mere equivalence, equity, or justice, and more conducive to happiness … In its wide extension, even at the present time, we also see the best guarantee of a still loftier evolution of our race.

There is no justice if wrongdoers go unpunished and victims do not feel avenged.

If there are issues, if there's wrongdoing, people have to be held accountable and we have to try to deter future bad behavior.

In terms of justice, the most important thing is not to be part of organized crime.

Law; an ordinance of reason for the common good, made by him who has care of the community.

The purpose of our justice system is to reflect the values of our society and to punish those who violate our standards.

I guess if life were fair, people who led decent lives would be rewarded, and people who led indecent lives would not be rewarded.

My goal for reform is not necessarily to pass laws but to make sure the laws are being followed.

In Scotland over many years we have cultivated through our justice system what I hope can be described as a 'culture of compassion.' On the other hand, there still exists in many parts of the U.S., if not nationally, an attitude towards the concept of justice which can only be described as a 'culture of vengeance.'

Justice is the first virtue of those who command, and stops the complaints of those who obey.

I don't think I should penalize people who were doing their duty.

Only criminals and bloodsuckers reward bad behavior.

I can establish the expectation of retributive justice. Have we done that? No.

The criminal is trying to solve his immediate problems.

Civilization is built on a number of ultimate principles... respect for human life, the punishment of crimes against property and persons, the equality of all good citizens before the law... or, in a word justice.

People who get involved with the success of something have to be given at least some share of that success.

Justice is such a fine thing that we cannot pay too dearly for it.

Justice turns the scale, bringing to some learning through suffering.