--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Censure pardons the ravens but rebukes…" description: "\"Censure pardons the ravens but rebukes the doves. [The innocent are punished and the wicked escape.]\" — Juvenal" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/650/juvenal-918_censure_censure-pardons-the-ravens-but-rebukes-t_3179954.png" --- # Censure pardons the ravens but rebukes the doves. \[The… ![“Censure pardons the ravens but rebukes the doves. [The innocent are punished and the wicked escape.]” quote by Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/650/juvenal-918_censure_censure-pardons-the-ravens-but-rebukes-t_3179954.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/650/juvenal-918_censure_censure-pardons-the-ravens-but-rebukes-t_3179954.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/650/juvenal-918_censure_censure-pardons-the-ravens-but-rebukes-t_3179954.png) > “Censure pardons the ravens but rebukes the doves. \[The innocent are punished and the wicked escape.\]” [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Punishing the innocent while rewarding the guilty reveals moral injustice and societal corruption. **In simple terms:** Innocent suffer, guilty thrive. Key Takeaway Seek justice and fairness. Themes justice morality corruption Mood cynical critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - legal reform - whistleblowing - civil rights activism Key Concepts ethics social critique Questions to Reflect On - How can societies protect the vulnerable? - What mechanisms deter the powerful from evading accountability? A Different Perspective Changing deep-rooted corruption is difficult and slow. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dove/) [Pardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pardon/) [Ravens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ravens/) ## Related quotes > [In God's pattern of justice, He takes the risk of the guilty going free but not the innocent being punished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-anders/in-god-s-pattern-of-justice-he-takes-the-risk-of-the-guilty-going/) [Max Anders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-anders/) > [The innocent are punished. That's the world we live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-hanif/the-innocent-are-punished-that-s-the-world-we-live-in/) [Mohammed Hanif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-hanif/) > [The costs of badly-run NASA projects are paid for with cutbacks or delays in NASA projects that didn't go over budget. Hence the guilty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-stern/the-costs-of-badly-run-nasa-projects-are-paid-for-with-cutbacks-or/) [Alan Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-stern/) > [For kind of sophisticated art I'm interested in, the larger structural rebuke has to be so subtle that it has to be distributed at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/for-kind-of-sophisticated-art-i-m-interested-in-the-larger-structural/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [Hope for a great sea-change timid to rebuke and too petty to forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seamus-heaney/hope-for-a-great-sea-change-timid-to-rebuke-and-too-petty-to-forgive/) [Seamus Heaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seamus-heaney/) > [“One's rebuke engraves itself upon the mind more than one's praise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-d/one-s-rebuke-engraves-itself-upon-the-mind-more-than-one-s-praise/) Seth D > [The way to stimulate and provoke others unto good works is to strive to outrun them in the race. The way to rebuke the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-way-to-stimulate-and-provoke-others-unto-good-works-is-to-strive/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Combativeness was, I suppose, the dominant trait in my grandmother's nature. An aggressive churchgoer, she was quite without Christian feeling; the mercy of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/combativeness-was-i-suppose-the-dominant-trait-in-my-grandmother-s/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [Anger and just rebuke, and judgment given, That brought into this world a world of woe, Sin and her shadow Death, and Misery, Death's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/anger-and-just-rebuke-and-judgment-given-that-brought-into-this-world/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [He does not show humility who accuses himself (for who will not accept rebukes from himself?), but he who, being rebuked by another, does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/he-does-not-show-humility-who-accuses-himself-for-who-will-not-accept/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/holding-on-to-anger-is-like-grasping-a-hot-coal-with-the-intent-of/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [People who have a seeking heart still make mistakes. But their reaction to rebuke and correction shows the condition of that heart. It determines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/people-who-have-a-seeking-heart-still-make-mistakes-but-their/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [If you're going to offer a position of great power and importance to somebody, you're not gonna do that publicly unless you know they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/if-you-re-going-to-offer-a-position-of-great-power-and-importance-to/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“Leaders spend time reviewing their mistakes rather than having fantasies over their achievements! They look for every way to do the undone!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/leaders-spend-time-reviewing-their-mistakes-rather-than-having/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [England expects every man to do his duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/england-expects-every-man-to-do-his-duty/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) ## More by Juvenal > [Where have you ever found that man who stopped short after the perpetration of a single crime?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/where-have-you-ever-found-that-man-who-stopped-short-after-the/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [Everything in Rome has its price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/everything-in-rome-has-its-price/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [Astrology reveals the will of the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/astrology-reveals-the-will-of-the-gods/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [ Indignation leads to the making of poetry. \[Lat., Facit indignatio versum.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/indignation-leads-to-the-making-of-poetry-lat-facit-indignatio-versum/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [The short bloom of our brief and narrow life flies fast away. While we are calling for flowers and wine and women, old age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/the-short-bloom-of-our-brief-and-narrow-life-flies-fast-away-while-we/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [Some men make money not for the sake of living, but ache In the blindness of greed and live just for their fortune's sake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/some-men-make-money-not-for-the-sake-of-living-but-ache-in-the/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? - Who will watch the watchers?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/quis-custodiet-ipsos-custodes-who-will-watch-the-watchers/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [All things may be bought in Rome with money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/all-things-may-be-bought-in-rome-with-money/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [Who is to guard the guards themselves?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/who-is-to-guard-the-guards-themselves/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [Dedicate one's life to truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/dedicate-one-s-life-to-truth/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [A sound mind in a sound body is a thing to be prayed for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/a-sound-mind-in-a-sound-body-is-a-thing-to-be-prayed-for/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [Only death reveals what a nothing the body of man is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/only-death-reveals-what-a-nothing-the-body-of-man-is/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [“show me the apartment 235 that lets you sleep! In this city sleep costs millions, and that’s the root of the trouble.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/show-me-the-apartment-235-that-lets-you-sleep-in-this-city-sleep/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [ When a man's life is at stake no delay is too long. \[Lat., Nulla unquam de morte cunctatio longa est.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/when-a-man-s-life-is-at-stake-no-delay-is-too-long-lat-nulla-unquam/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [What man have you ever seen who was contented with one crime only?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/what-man-have-you-ever-seen-who-was-contented-with-one-crime-only/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) [Explore all 328 Juvenal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) ## More Censure quotes > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [I have often met with happiness after some imprudent step which ought to have brought ruin upon me, and although passing a vote of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-casanova/i-have-often-met-with-happiness-after-some-imprudent-step-which-ought/) [Giacomo Casanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-casanova/) > [Let such teach others who themselves excel, And censure freely who have written well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/let-such-teach-others-who-themselves-excel-and-censure-freely-who/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [ “\[M\]an is not permitted without censure to follow his own thoughts in the search of truth, when they lead him ever so little out… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/m-an-is-not-permitted-without-censure-to-follow-his-own-thoughts-in/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [If there should chance to be any mathematicians who, ignorant in mathematics yet pretending to skill in that science, should dare, upon the authority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolaus-copernicus/if-there-should-chance-to-be-any-mathematicians-who-ignorant-in/) [Nicolaus Copernicus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolaus-copernicus/) > [The praise of the envious is far less creditable than their censure; they praise only that which they can surpass, but that which surpasses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/the-praise-of-the-envious-is-far-less-creditable-than-their-censure/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Why should we censure Othello when the Criterion Lover says, "Thou shalt have no other Gods before Me"?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/why-should-we-censure-othello-when-the-criterion-lover-says-thou/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Assuming that two-thirds of the Senate will not vote to remove the president, what is the alternative? I think we need to explore that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thad-cochran/assuming-that-two-thirds-of-the-senate-will-not-vote-to-remove-the/) [Thad Cochran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thad-cochran/) > [The censure of a dog is something no man can stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-morley/the-censure-of-a-dog-is-something-no-man-can-stand/) [Christopher Morley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-morley/) > [Dat veniam corvis, vexat censura columbas. - Censure acquits the raven, but pursues the dove.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/dat-veniam-corvis-vexat-censura-columbas-censure-acquits-the-raven/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [John Doyle just knows how to feed actors, and what comes out of us, good, bad, right, wrong, doesn't matter. There's no fear or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-lupone/john-doyle-just-knows-how-to-feed-actors-and-what-comes-out-of-us/) [Patti LuPone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-lupone/) > [The stage I chose--a subject fair and free-- 'Tis yours--'tis mine--'tis public property. All common exhibitions open lie, For praise or censure, to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-churchill/the-stage-i-chose-a-subject-fair-and-free-tis-yours-tis-mine-tis/) [Charles Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-churchill/) > [Praise from a friend, or censure from a foe, Are lost on hearers that our merits know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/praise-from-a-friend-or-censure-from-a-foe-are-lost-on-hearers-that/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [We put together a one-sentence petition asking Congress to censure President Clinton and move on to other pressing issues. We sent it to under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-blades/we-put-together-a-one-sentence-petition-asking-congress-to-censure/) [Joan Blades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-blades/) > [Censure acquits the raven, but pursues the dove.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/censure-acquits-the-raven-but-pursues-the-dove/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) Browse all 183 Censure quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Censure pardons the ravens but rebukes the doves. 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