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Whether there had not been more abuse on the part of the…

“Whether there had not been more abuse on the part of the law, in respect to the penalty, than there had been on the part of the culprit in respect to his fault. Whether there had not been an excess of weights in one balance of the scale, in the one which contains expiation.” quote by Victor Hugo
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““Whether there had not been more abuse on the part of the law, in respect to the penalty, than there had been on the part of the culprit in respect to his fault. Whether there had not been an excess of weights in one balance of the scale, in the one which contains expiation.””

Victor Hugo

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The passage questions whether legal penalties are harsher than the offender’s guilt, suggesting a misbalance in justice when punishment outweighs fault.

In simple terms: Justice should match guilt, not exceed it.

Key Takeaway

Seek fair, proportionate punishment.

Themes

justice law ethics balance punishment

Mood

critical thoughtful

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

  • court sentencing
  • criminal rehabilitation
  • policy reform

Key Concepts

proportionality morality legal theory

Questions to Reflect On

  • Is punishment ever justified beyond the crime?
  • How can societies ensure balanced justice?
A Different Perspective

Legal systems often struggle to measure subjective fault.

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