--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am told that the proximity of…" description: "\"I am told that the proximity of punishment arouses real repentance in the criminal and sometimes awakens a feeling of genuine remorse in the most harde..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/523/anonymous-1_crime_i-am-told-that-the-proximity-of-punishme_704165.jpg" --- # I am told that the proximity of punishment arouses real… ![“I am told that the proximity of punishment arouses real repentance in the criminal and sometimes awakens a feeling of genuine remorse in the most hardened heart; I am told this is due to fear.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/523/anonymous-1_crime_i-am-told-that-the-proximity-of-punishme_704165.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/523/anonymous-1_crime_i-am-told-that-the-proximity-of-punishme_704165.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/523/anonymous-1_crime_i-am-told-that-the-proximity-of-punishme_704165.jpg) > “I am told that the proximity of punishment arouses real repentance in the criminal and sometimes awakens a feeling of genuine remorse in the most hardened heart; I am told this is due to fear.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The threat of punishment can provoke genuine remorse, but it may be driven by fear rather than true moral change. **In simple terms:** Punishment may cause fear‑based remorse. Key Takeaway Consider the role of fear in reform. Themes justice psychology morality Mood reflective serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - court sentencing - prison rehabilitation - restorative justice - policy making Key Concepts deterrence guilt rehabilitation Questions to Reflect On - Is fear an effective catalyst for true moral change? - How can we foster authentic remorse? A Different Perspective Fear‑induced remorse may not lead to lasting ethical behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Criminals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminals/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Hardened heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardened-heart/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Proximity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proximity/) [Punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishment/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Remorse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remorse/) [Repentance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repentance/) ## Related quotes > [Lovesick, bitter and hardened heart. Aching, waiting for life to start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lovesick-bitter-and-hardened-heart-aching-waiting-for-life-to-start/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Both Christian and Adrian had worried there would be some piece of Strigoi left in him, but their fears had been about violence and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/both-christian-and-adrian-had-worried-there-would-be-some-piece-of/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [Only unconditional grace can transform a hardened heart into a grateful heart. Only a free gift can demolish any notion of quid pro quo.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-galli/only-unconditional-grace-can-transform-a-hardened-heart-into-a/) [Mark Galli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-galli/) > [As a child, he had hardened his heart and learned to take their punches. He had learned to spit back and take down anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/as-a-child-he-had-hardened-his-heart-and-learned-to-take-their/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Don’t be afraid to speak from personal experience; in many ways, those vulnerable moments will be the key that unlocks a hardened heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-palau/don-t-be-afraid-to-speak-from-personal-experience-in-many-ways-those/) [Luis Palau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-palau/) > [Loving a holy God is beyond our moral power. The only kind of God we can love by our sinful nature is an unholy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/loving-a-holy-god-is-beyond-our-moral-power-the-only-kind-of-god-we/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [If the heart becomes hardened, the eye becomes dry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-qayyim-al-jawziyya/if-the-heart-becomes-hardened-the-eye-becomes-dry/) [Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-qayyim-al-jawziyya/) > [The cure for a hardened heart is to keep a total commitment to keep your MINDstate on the Lord! The key to perfect peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-cure-for-a-hardened-heart-is-to-keep-a-total-commitment-to-keep/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Real repentance means that a man has come, not only to be sorry for the consequences of his sin, but to hate sin itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/real-repentance-means-that-a-man-has-come-not-only-to-be-sorry-for/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [Legalistic remorse says, "I broke God's rules," while real repentance says, "I broke God's heart."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/legalistic-remorse-says-i-broke-god-s-rules-while-real-repentance/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [Real repentance means coming not only to be sorry for the consequences of sin but to hate sin itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/real-repentance-means-coming-not-only-to-be-sorry-for-the/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [There are many ways to cover up our sin. We may justify or minimize it by blaming circumstances and others people. However, real repentance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/there-are-many-ways-to-cover-up-our-sin-we-may-justify-or-minimize-it/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [Most of our suffering comes from sin and stupidity; it is, nevertheless, very real, and growth can occur with real repentance. But the highest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/most-of-our-suffering-comes-from-sin-and-stupidity-it-is-nevertheless/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [The poor quality of Christian that grows out of our modern evangelistic meeting may be accounted for by the absence of real repentance accompanying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/the-poor-quality-of-christian-that-grows-out-of-our-modern/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [People in high life are hardened to the wants and distresses of mankind as surgeons are to their bodily pains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-in-high-life-are-hardened-to-the-wants-and-distresses-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Crime quotes > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [“Crime and punishment can be summed up in two classifications: there are bad people and there are people who get into bad situations. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/crime-and-punishment-can-be-summed-up-in-two-classifications-there/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [“The jailers, the Court, everyone in that building – it wasn’t about justice; it was about obedience and intimidation…about maintaining order. Fear accomplished that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/the-jailers-the-court-everyone-in-that-building-it-wasn-t-about/) [Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/) > [Taking notes while watching Forensic Files and Snapped. I don't want to make the same mistakes the criminals do! ;)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/taking-notes-while-watching-forensic-files-and-snapped-i-don-t-want/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/a-man-could-be-a-lover-and-defender-of-the-wilderness-without-ever-in/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [Nations sometimes flourish by denying the crimes that brought them into being. Only when the original invasion, occupation, extermination or usurpation has been safely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/nations-sometimes-flourish-by-denying-the-crimes-that-brought-them/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [The danger that may really threaten (crime fiction) is that soon there will be more writers than readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-danger-that-may-really-threaten-crime-fiction-is-that-soon-there/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [“a crime to fell a tree and light it on fire, where coals of hardened shit warmed and stunk up homes,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/a-crime-to-fell-a-tree-and-light-it-on-fire-where-coals-of-hardened/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [A great read; an exciting, frightening account of organized crime today. But like all important works of nonfiction, it goes further… This book is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/le-ly-hayslip/a-great-read-an-exciting-frightening-account-of-organized-crime-today/) [Le Ly Hayslip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/le-ly-hayslip/) > [History is the study of the world's crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/history-is-the-study-of-the-world-s-crime/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [If it comes to a question of law, the charges they brought against me - the Espionage Act - is called the quintessential political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-it-comes-to-a-question-of-law-the-charges-they-brought-against-me/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Too much virtue can be criminal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/too-much-virtue-can-be-criminal/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [The federal prison population increased by almost 800 percent between 1980 and 2013, often at a far faster rate than the Bureau of Prisons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-yates/the-federal-prison-population-increased-by-almost-800-percent-between/) [Sally Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-yates/) > [ \[P\]rogress, however, has not sufficiently infiltrated the Interior Ministry, affording protection to those who participated in the Bytyqi murders and other egregious Milosevic-era crimes. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avis-bohlen/p-rogress-however-has-not-sufficiently-infiltrated-the-interior/) Avis Bohlen [Browse all 8,359 Crime quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am told that the proximity of punishment arouses real repentance in the criminal and sometimes awakens a feeling of genuine remorse in the most hardened heart; I am told this is due to fear.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anonymous" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-told-that-the-proximity-of-punishment-arouses-real-repentance-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Crime" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-told-that-the-proximity-of-punishment-arouses-real-repentance-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/523/anonymous-1_crime_i-am-told-that-the-proximity-of-punishme_704165.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/523/anonymous-1_crime_i-am-told-that-the-proximity-of-punishme_704165.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/523/anonymous-1_crime_i-am-told-that-the-proximity-of-punishme_704165.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am told that the proximity of punishment arouses real repentance in the criminal and sometimes awakens a…” — Anonymous", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Anonymous", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I am told that the proximity...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-told-that-the-proximity-of-punishment-arouses-real-repentance-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-told-that-the-proximity-of-punishment-arouses-real-repentance-in/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```