--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is better to kill one hundred…" description: "\"It is better to kill one hundred innocents than to let one guilty person go.\" — Dolores Ibarruri" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ff/dolores-ibarruri-81950_guilty_it-is-better-to-kill-one-hundred-innocen_1909541.png" --- # It is better to kill one hundred innocents than to let one… ![“It is better to kill one hundred innocents than to let one guilty person go.” quote by Dolores Ibarruri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ff/dolores-ibarruri-81950_guilty_it-is-better-to-kill-one-hundred-innocen_1909541.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ff/dolores-ibarruri-81950_guilty_it-is-better-to-kill-one-hundred-innocen_1909541.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ff/dolores-ibarruri-81950_guilty_it-is-better-to-kill-one-hundred-innocen_1909541.png) > “It is better to kill one hundred innocents than to let one guilty person go.” Dolores Ibarruri ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prioritizing collective safety over individual innocence can justify extreme actions against many to protect a perceived greater good. **In simple terms:** Choosing safety for many over one innocent. Key Takeaway Weigh collective risk versus individual rights. Themes ethics politics violence justice collective security Mood tense critical reflective Type ethical political controversial When to use this quote - war decision making - law enforcement - policy drafting - human rights advocacy Key Concepts utilitarianism moral calculus revolutionary ideology Questions to Reflect On - Is it ever just to sacrifice the innocent for the guilty? - How does this view affect rule of law? A Different Perspective Such calculus can erode moral standards and lead to abuse of power. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Guilty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilty/) [Guilty person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilty-person/) [Innocents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innocents/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ## Related quotes > [It is better and more satisfactory to acquit a thousand guilty persons than to put a single innocent one to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/it-is-better-and-more-satisfactory-to-acquit-a-thousand-guilty/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [I made no pretense of doing balanced reporting about murder. I was appalled by defense attorneys who would do anything to win an acquittal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominick-dunne/i-made-no-pretense-of-doing-balanced-reporting-about-murder-i-was/) [Dominick Dunne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominick-dunne/) > [For if it is not lawful to take the law into our own hands and slay even a guilty person, whose death no public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/for-if-it-is-not-lawful-to-take-the-law-into-our-own-hands-and-slay/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [It is better that ten guilty persons escape than one innocent suffer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blackstone/it-is-better-that-ten-guilty-persons-escape-than-one-innocent-suffer/) [William Blackstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blackstone/) > [As to adultery, let it be held disgraceful, in general, for any man or woman to be found in any way unfaithful when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/as-to-adultery-let-it-be-held-disgraceful-in-general-for-any-man-or/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [If the system turns away from the abuses inflicted on the guilty, then who can be next but the innocents?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-connelly/if-the-system-turns-away-from-the-abuses-inflicted-on-the-guilty-then/) [Michael Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-connelly/) > [A guilty system recognizes no innocents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/a-guilty-system-recognizes-no-innocents/) [Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/) > [You'd better not kill me, man, I've got shit to do tomorrow!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-wayans/you-d-better-not-kill-me-man-i-ve-got-shit-to-do-tomorrow/) [Damon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-wayans/) > [“Better to kill time than kill oneself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ligotti/better-to-kill-time-than-kill-oneself/) [Thomas Ligotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ligotti/) > [“You better kill me now, Lucas, because I’m not going to stay away from her. I can’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/you-better-kill-me-now-lucas-because-i-m-not-going-to-stay-away-from/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [It is far better for anyone to kill a single American soldier than to squander his efforts on other activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osama-bin-laden/it-is-far-better-for-anyone-to-kill-a-single-american-soldier-than-to/) [Osama bin Laden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osama-bin-laden/) > [If you're going to take a shot at the king. You know, you'd better kill him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megyn-kelly/if-you-re-going-to-take-a-shot-at-the-king-you-know-you-d-better-kill/) [Megyn Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megyn-kelly/) > [Better to kill an innocent by mistake than spare an enemy by mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pol-pot/better-to-kill-an-innocent-by-mistake-than-spare-an-enemy-by-mistake/) [Pol Pot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pol-pot/) > [“Lastly, I accuse the first court-martial of having violated the law by condemning an accused person on one document kept secret, and I accuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mile-zola/lastly-i-accuse-the-first-court-martial-of-having-violated-the-law-by/) [Émile Zola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mile-zola/) > [“It is better for a leader to make mistake in forgiving (a guilty person) than making a mistake in punishing (an innocent).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-better-for-a-leader-to-make-mistake-in-forgiving-a-guilty/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Dolores Ibarruri > [It's better to die than to live on your knees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-ibarruri/it-s-better-to-die-than-to-live-on-your-knees/) Dolores Ibarruri > [It is better to be the widow of a hero than the wife of a coward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-ibarruri/it-is-better-to-be-the-widow-of-a-hero-than-the-wife-of-a-coward/) Dolores Ibarruri Explore all 3 Dolores Ibarruri quotes ## More Guilty quotes > [Sam reached his hand toward mine and I automatically put my fingers in his. With a guilty little smile he pulled my hand toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/sam-reached-his-hand-toward-mine-and-i-automatically-put-my-fingers/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [Never underestimate a man's ability to make you feel guilty for his mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rihanna/never-underestimate-a-man-s-ability-to-make-you-feel-guilty-for-his/) [Rihanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rihanna/) > [Under every guilty secret there is hidden a brood of guilty wishes, whose unwholesome infecting life is cherished by the darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/under-every-guilty-secret-there-is-hidden-a-brood-of-guilty-wishes/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [All of us, whether guilty or not, whether old or young, must accept the past. It is not a case of coming to terms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-von-weizsaecker/all-of-us-whether-guilty-or-not-whether-old-or-young-must-accept-the/) [Richard von Weizsaecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-von-weizsaecker/) > [You were never created to live depressed, defeated, guilty, condemned, ashamed or unworthy. You were created to be victorious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-were-never-created-to-live-depressed-defeated-guilty-condemned/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [A criminal trial is never about seeking justice for the victim. If it were, there could be only one verdict: guilty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/a-criminal-trial-is-never-about-seeking-justice-for-the-victim-if-it/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [Failure in the theater is more dramatic and uglier than any other form of writing. It costs so much, you feel so guilty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-dramatic-and-uglier-than-any-other/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [The truly just is he who feels half guilty of your misdeeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/the-truly-just-is-he-who-feels-half-guilty-of-your-misdeeds/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [My parents were very supportive of my chess. When I got home after a game of chess, having missed school or something, they always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/my-parents-were-very-supportive-of-my-chess-when-i-got-home-after-a/) [Viswanathan Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viswanathan-anand/) > [When youre a stay-at-home mother you have to pretend its really boring, but its not. Its enriching and fulfilling, and an amazing experience. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/when-youre-a-stay-at-home-mother-you-have-to-pretend-its-really/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [We Muslims believe that the white race, which is guilty of having oppressed and exploited and enslaved our people here in America, should and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/we-muslims-believe-that-the-white-race-which-is-guilty-of-having/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Buddhist words such as compassion and emptiness don't mean much until we start cultivating our innate ability simply to be there with pain with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/buddhist-words-such-as-compassion-and-emptiness-don-t-mean-much-until/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [LIVING WITH A GUILTY HEART,IS LIFE WITHOUT THE BAR'S.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicia-washington/living-with-a-guilty-heart-is-life-without-the-bar-s/) Felicia Washington > [It's one thing for a person to live his life as a vacuous shell without fully comprehending the extent of his transgressions, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarek-saab/it-s-one-thing-for-a-person-to-live-his-life-as-a-vacuous-shell/) [Tarek Saab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarek-saab/) > [Charity is the filthiest invention of the human mind: first you steal what belongs to everyone; then you use the law and various other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/u-g-krishnamurti/charity-is-the-filthiest-invention-of-the-human-mind-first-you-steal/) [U.G. Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/u-g-krishnamurti/) [Browse all 1,985 Guilty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilty/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is better to kill one hundred innocents than to let one guilty person go.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dolores Ibarruri" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-ibarruri/it-is-better-to-kill-one-hundred-innocents-than-to-let-one-guilty/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Guilty" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-ibarruri/it-is-better-to-kill-one-hundred-innocents-than-to-let-one-guilty/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ff/dolores-ibarruri-81950_guilty_it-is-better-to-kill-one-hundred-innocen_1909541.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ff/dolores-ibarruri-81950_guilty_it-is-better-to-kill-one-hundred-innocen_1909541.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ff/dolores-ibarruri-81950_guilty_it-is-better-to-kill-one-hundred-innocen_1909541.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is better to kill one hundred innocents than to let one guilty person go.” — Dolores Ibarruri", "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": "Dolores Ibarruri", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-ibarruri/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is better to kill one...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-ibarruri/it-is-better-to-kill-one-hundred-innocents-than-to-let-one-guilty/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-ibarruri/it-is-better-to-kill-one-hundred-innocents-than-to-let-one-guilty/#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 } } ] } ```