Crime Quote by George Bernard Shaw
“Of the three official objects of our prison system: vengeance, deterrence, and reformation of the criminal, only one is achieved; and that is the one which is nakedly abominable.”
About This Quote
Source Play: Man and Superman, 1903
Shaw critiques the prison system, arguing that its stated goals conflict, and only the punitive aspect is truly realized, which he finds morally abhorrent.
In simple terms: He says prisons claim to deter, reform, and punish, but only punishment works, and it’s terrible.
Key Takeaway
Question the true purpose and morality of punishment.
Themes
justice
ethics
penology
society
reform
Mood
critical
thought‑provoking
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- court sentencing
- prison reform debates
- policy making
- public education
Key Concepts
retributive justice
human rights
systemic failure
Questions to Reflect On
- What alternatives to punishment exist?
- How can society balance safety and rehabilitation?
A Different Perspective
Reform efforts often face political resistance.
![“The film [Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth] opens with an Albanian blood feud and goes on to delve into, for instance, prison systems, underpaid tomato pickers, the gulf oil spill. It's all woven together in a sensuous, oblique way that's not the same as the single-message kind of…” quote by Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/53b/margaret-atwood-40_albanian_the-film-payback-debt-and-the-shadow-sid_1984913.jpg)
