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On the whole, perhaps, it might be admitted that rough…

“On the whole, perhaps, it might be admitted that rough justice was done, but it exasperated the assistant that his chief trusted his instinct rather than the evidence. He would not listen to reason. He browbeat the witnesses and when they did not see what he wished them to called them thieves and…” quote by W. Somerset Maugham
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““On the whole, perhaps, it might be admitted that rough justice was done, but it exasperated the assistant that his chief trusted his instinct rather than the evidence. He would not listen to reason. He browbeat the witnesses and when they did not see what he wished them to called them thieves and liars.””

W. Somerset Maugham

About This Quote

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

Justice was superficially served, but the judge’s bias and intimidation undermined fairness.

In simple terms: Bias corrupts justice.

Key Takeaway

Seek evidence over instinct.

Themes

justice bias authority ethics

Mood

critical thoughtful

Type

analytical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • courtroom decisions
  • organizational investigations
  • media reporting

Key Concepts

legal philosophy psychology of power procedural fairness

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can institutions guard against personal bias?
  • What safeguards ensure evidence‑based judgments?
A Different Perspective

Reliance on intuition can lead to miscarriage of justice.

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