Beccaria Quote by Cesare Beccaria
““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
Source Book: On Crimes and Punishments by Cesare Beccaria, 1764
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.
