The Quotes canon
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Every quote has been curated by hand and carefully authenticated.
Browse all 10,075 quotes or apply filters in different categories to narrow your search.
Browse all 10,075 quotes or apply filters in different categories to narrow your search.
Age of Enlightenment2 quotes
Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent. — Adam Smith · 1759All punishment is mischief: all punishment in itself is evil. — Jeremy Bentham · 1789Classical antiquity1 quote
Let the punishment match the offense. — Cicero · 43 BCOld Testament Era1 quote
A fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. — God · 1405 BCThe Renaissance1 quote
Here the great art lies, to discern in what the law is to bid restraint and punishment, and in what things persuasion only is to work. — John Milton · 1644