Compassion Quote by Brandon Sanderson
““Leniency and mercy. Men set free despite crimes, because they were good fathers, or well liked in the community, or in the favor of someone important. “Some of those who are set free change their lives and go on to produce for society. Others recidivate and create great tragedies. The thing is, Szeth son Neturo, we humans are terrible at spotting which will be which. The purpose of the law is so we do not have to choose. So our native sentimentality will not harm us.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Way of Kings, Brandon Sanderson, 2010
The law must make decisions impartially because humans cannot reliably predict who will reform or reoffend.
In simple terms: Law should be impartial, not based on personal feelings.
Key Takeaway
Rely on objective justice, not intuition.
Themes
justice
law
human bias
rehabilitation
recidivism
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- court sentencing
- parole boards
- policy making
- community safety
- rehabilitation programs
Key Concepts
ethical philosophy
criminal justice
societal risk
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we improve fairness in sentencing?
- What safeguards prevent bias in parole decisions?
A Different Perspective
Human intuition often fails to accurately assess future behavior.
