---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Instead of relying on human judgment to…"
description: "\"“Instead of relying on human judgment to determine the verdict, the Count decided to place the matter in the hands of God. The suspected witch was subj..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/697/darren-oldridge-111293_quote_instead-of-relying-on-human-judgment-to_1641355.jpg"
---

#  Instead of relying on human judgment to determine the…

![“Instead of relying on human judgment to determine the verdict, the Count decided to place the matter in the hands of God. The suspected witch was subjected to &quot;the trial by red-hot iron&quot;. This procedure required the accused person to take an iron from a furnace and carry it for three paces. Their…” quote by Darren Oldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/697/darren-oldridge-111293_quote_instead-of-relying-on-human-judgment-to_1641355.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/697/darren-oldridge-111293_quote_instead-of-relying-on-human-judgment-to_1641355.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/697/darren-oldridge-111293_quote_instead-of-relying-on-human-judgment-to_1641355.jpg)

> ““Instead of relying on human judgment to determine the verdict, the Count decided to place the matter in the hands of God. The suspected witch was subjected to "the trial by red-hot iron". This procedure required the accused person to take an iron from a furnace and carry it for three paces. Their hand would be bound for three days and then the wound would be inspected. They were declared innocent if the wound had healed cleanly, but condemned if it was found to be weeping or discoloured. The accused woman submitted to the ordeal with impressive confidence.””

Darren Oldridge

## About This Quote

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

A community entrusts divine judgment to a painful ordeal to test innocence, reflecting fear‑driven justice.

**In simple terms:** Divine trial to prove innocence.

Key Takeaway

Question reliance on cruel tests for truth.

Themes

justice fear ritual

Mood

grim critical

Type

historical ethical

When to use this quote

- courtroom drama
- historical research
- ethical debate

Key Concepts

witchcraft legal history societal belief

Questions to Reflect On

- What alternatives exist for truth?
- How does fear shape justice?

A Different Perspective

Such trials are unreliable and inhumane.

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## More by Darren Oldridge

> [“Our own lives are filled with experiences and beliefs that are peculiar to our culture, and would seem bizarre to anyone outside it. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-oldridge/our-own-lives-are-filled-with-experiences-and-beliefs-that-are/)

Darren Oldridge

Explore all 2 Darren Oldridge quotes

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