It is a considerable point in all good legislation to…
““It is a considerable point in all good legislation to determine exactly the credibility of witnesses and the proofs of a crime. Every reasonable man, everyone, that is, whose ideas have a certain interconnection and whose feelings accord with those of other men, may be a witness. The true measure of his credibility is nothing other than his interest in telling or not telling the truth; for this reason it is frivolous to insist that women are too weak [to be good witnesses], childish to insist that civil death in a condemned man has the same effects as a real death, and meaningless to insist on the infamy of the infamous, when they have no interest in lying.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Credibility depends on a witness’s motive, not gender or status; bias undermines justice.
In simple terms: A witness’s interest in truth determines trustworthiness.
Key Takeaway
Assess motives when evaluating testimony.
Themes
justice
bias
legal ethics
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
legal
When to use this quote
- courtroom trials
- police interrogations
- jury deliberations
- legal reforms
Key Concepts
credibility
motivation
gender bias
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you detect hidden motives?
- What safeguards reduce bias in testimony?
A Different Perspective
Human nature is complex; motives can be hidden.