Mason Cooley Quotes

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.

A king who desires his own welfare must always forgive litigants, infants, aged and sick men, who inveigh against him.

The severest justice may not always be the best policy.

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.

The essence of justice is mercy.

That old law about 'an eye for an eye' leaves everybody blind. The time is always right to do the right thing.

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

One threatens the innocent who spares the guilty.

Justice should not admit a public's thirst for pure revenge.

There are some duties we owe even to those who have wronged us. There is, after all, a limit to retribution and punishment.

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

I don't believe in an eye for an eye. I believe in two eyes for an eye.

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

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.

To me, I think justice is part of forgiving, if it is well done with love.

Nothing can make injustice just but mercy.

Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent.

Compassion towards the wicked – is cruelty to all beings.

It's important we understand our system seeks justice and not revenge.

Mercy more becomes a magistrate than the vindictive wrath which men call justice.

The difference between justice and forgiveness: To be just is to condemn the fault and, because of the fault, to condemn the doer as well. To forgive is to condemn the fault but to spare the doer. That's what the forgiving God does.

MERCY, n. An attribute beloved of detected offenders.

There is no forgiveness in nature.

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.'