--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When poor and ordinary Americans who…" description: "\"When poor and ordinary Americans who commit crimes are prosecuted and imprisoned, that is Justice. When the same thing is done to Washington elites, th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ee/glenn-greenwald-1215_commit_when-poor-and-ordinary-americans-who-com_3097621.jpg" --- # When poor and ordinary Americans who commit crimes are… ![“When poor and ordinary Americans who commit crimes are prosecuted and imprisoned, that is Justice. When the same thing is done to Washington elites, that is Ugly Retribution.” quote by Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ee/glenn-greenwald-1215_commit_when-poor-and-ordinary-americans-who-com_3097621.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ee/glenn-greenwald-1215_commit_when-poor-and-ordinary-americans-who-com_3097621.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ee/glenn-greenwald-1215_commit_when-poor-and-ordinary-americans-who-com_3097621.jpg) > “When poor and ordinary Americans who commit crimes are prosecuted and imprisoned, that is Justice. When the same thing is done to Washington elites, that is Ugly Retribution.” [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Justice is applied differently to ordinary citizens versus powerful elites, revealing bias in the legal system. **In simple terms:** The law treats common people and elites unfairly. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge systemic bias. Themes justice inequality power law politics Mood critical concerned Type political social commentary When to use this quote - court cases - policy reform - media analysis - activism Key Concepts bias elite privilege legal double standards Questions to Reflect On - How does power influence legal outcomes? - What can individuals do to promote fairness? A Different Perspective The quote may oversimplify complex legal processes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Elites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elites/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Retribution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retribution/) ## Related quotes > [War crimes will be prosecuted. War criminals will be punished. And it will be no defense to say, 'I was just following orders.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/war-crimes-will-be-prosecuted-war-criminals-will-be-punished-and-it/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [No one ever laid out the sequence of events that led to my mother being prosecuted and imprisoned for alleged welfare fraud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/no-one-ever-laid-out-the-sequence-of-events-that-led-to-my-mother/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > ["I would be prosecuted and imprisoned if I did what you did." Again, different strokes for the Clintons, look what happened they get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-guilfoyle/i-would-be-prosecuted-and-imprisoned-if-i-did-what-you-did-again/) [Kimberly Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-guilfoyle/) > [If you remove the fear of criminal punishment for the nation's political and financial elites - as we have done - what possible constraint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/if-you-remove-the-fear-of-criminal-punishment-for-the-nation-s/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [As always with any discussion of elite immunity, it's crucial to note that what makes this development such a particularly warped travesty is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/as-always-with-any-discussion-of-elite-immunity-it-s-crucial-to-note/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [Whether a country is actually free is determined not by how well-rewarded its convention-affirming media elites are and how ignored its passive citizens are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/whether-a-country-is-actually-free-is-determined-not-by-how-well/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [She used my toothbrush to clean the toilet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-notorious-b-i-g/she-used-my-toothbrush-to-clean-the-toilet/) [The Notorious B.I.G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-notorious-b-i-g/) > [But as some muskets so contrive it As oft to miss the mark they drive at, And though well aimed at dock or plover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-trumbull/but-as-some-muskets-so-contrive-it-as-oft-to-miss-the-mark-they-drive/) [John Trumbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-trumbull/) > [There are some duties we owe even to those who have wronged us. There is, after all, a limit to retribution and punishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/there-are-some-duties-we-owe-even-to-those-who-have-wronged-us-there/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The day came. The wrath descended. Sin, guilt, and retribution? The manic psychoses of those entities we referred to as states, institutions, systems -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/the-day-came-the-wrath-descended-sin-guilt-and-retribution-the-manic/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [“Paulinus, everyone knows. Say the word, and I'll run the bitch over with my chariot”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-quinn/paulinus-everyone-knows-say-the-word-and-i-ll-run-the-bitch-over-with/) [Kate Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-quinn/) > [Understanding isn't learned from punishment and anger. An iron has no gentle touch, and love ain't learned from hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/understanding-isn-t-learned-from-punishment-and-anger-an-iron-has-no/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [Not getting enough retribution or decent incentives to keep me at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/not-getting-enough-retribution-or-decent-incentives-to-keep-me-at-it/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) > [Plans to exact retribution are never going to make us safer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/plans-to-exact-retribution-are-never-going-to-make-us-safer/) [Marshall B. 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I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giancarlo-esposito/i-like-to-always-wash-the-slate-clean-and-reinvigorate-my-spirit-to/) [Giancarlo Esposito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giancarlo-esposito/) > [He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. "For He giveth His beloved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-believes-in-god-is-not-careful-for-the-morrow-but-labors/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [You get a script and you love it. You find a director that you trust, and it becomes all about how do I commit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/you-get-a-script-and-you-love-it-you-find-a-director-that-you-trust/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [Ok, look. I'm honest. Girl I can't lie I miss you. 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