--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do not be merciful, but be just, for…" description: "\"Do not be merciful, but be just, for mercy is bestowed upon the guilty criminal, while Justice is all that the innocent man requires.\" — Khalil Gibran" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff4/khalil-gibran-286_compassion_do-not-be-merciful-but-be-just-for-mercy_3091503.jpg" --- # Do not be merciful, but be just, for mercy is bestowed… ![“Do not be merciful, but be just, for mercy is bestowed upon the guilty criminal, while Justice is all that the innocent man requires.” quote by Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff4/khalil-gibran-286_compassion_do-not-be-merciful-but-be-just-for-mercy_3091503.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff4/khalil-gibran-286_compassion_do-not-be-merciful-but-be-just-for-mercy_3091503.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff4/khalil-gibran-286_compassion_do-not-be-merciful-but-be-just-for-mercy_3091503.jpg) > “Do not be merciful, but be just, for mercy is bestowed upon the guilty criminal, while Justice is all that the innocent man requires.” [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Justice should be given to the innocent, not mercy to the guilty **In simple terms:** Justice protects the innocent, mercy can aid the guilty Key Takeaway Prioritize fairness over misplaced compassion Themes justice morality compassion Mood reflective serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - courtrooms - policy making - personal disputes Key Concepts ethical theory law philosophy Questions to Reflect On - When is mercy appropriate? - How balance justice and mercy? A Different Perspective Mercy can be necessary for rehabilitation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Criminals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminals/) [Guilty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilty/) [Innocent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innocent/) [Innocent man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innocent-man/) [Just Mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-mercy-1570254/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Justice Innocent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice-innocent-2467140/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Merciful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merciful/) [Merciful Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merciful-just-595871/) [Mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy/) [Mercy Bestowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy-bestowed-5318477/) ## Related quotes > [Let us be merciful as well as just.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/let-us-be-merciful-as-well-as-just/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [I'm not blessed, or merciful. I'm just me. I've got a job to do, and I do it. Listen: even as we're talking, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-m-not-blessed-or-merciful-i-m-just-me-i-ve-got-a-job-to-do-and-i-do/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [If by any effort of reason I could conceive how God, Who shows so much anger and iniquity, could be merciful and just, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/if-by-any-effort-of-reason-i-could-conceive-how-god-who-shows-so-much/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Being all fashioned of the self-same dust, let us be merciful as well as just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/being-all-fashioned-of-the-self-same-dust-let-us-be-merciful-as-well/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Luke 6:35-36 NKJV) But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goddey-wilson/luke-6-35-36-nkjv-but-love-your-enemies-do-good-and-lend-hoping-for/) [GODDEY WILSON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goddey-wilson/) > [“As I silently rub the drops of blood on the wall, I can only find the right words when I think of that merciful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-zhao/as-i-silently-rub-the-drops-of-blood-on-the-wall-i-can-only-find-the/) [Lin Zhao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-zhao/) > [“If I owe a person money, and cannot pay him, and he threatens to put me in prison, another person can take the debt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/if-i-owe-a-person-money-and-cannot-pay-him-and-he-threatens-to-put-me/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [I only did four days on 'Just Mercy' at the same time I'm playing a cowboy in another movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-morgan/i-only-did-four-days-on-just-mercy-at-the-same-time-i-m-playing-a/) [Rob Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-morgan/) > [His judgments are just; His mercy without limit; His power to compensate beyond any earthly comparison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/his-judgments-are-just-his-mercy-without-limit-his-power-to/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [I believe that no hell will be lacking which would help the just mercy of God to redeem his children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/i-believe-that-no-hell-will-be-lacking-which-would-help-the-just/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Nothing can make injustice just but mercy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/nothing-can-make-injustice-just-but-mercy/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [“The power of just mercy is that it belongs to the undeserving.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-stevenson/the-power-of-just-mercy-is-that-it-belongs-to-the-undeserving/) [Bryan Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-stevenson/) > [Don’t fuss. I love you just as you are, Mercy. I don’t need to swallow you whole, I don’t need to be in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/don-t-fuss-i-love-you-just-as-you-are-mercy-i-don-t-need-to-swallow/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [And we are called upon to worship such a God; to get upon our knees and tell him that he is good, that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/and-we-are-called-upon-to-worship-such-a-god-to-get-upon-our-knees/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [“The biblical story of the binding of Isaac shows that human sacrifice was far from unthinkable in the 1st millennium BCE. The Israelites boasted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/the-biblical-story-of-the-binding-of-isaac-shows-that-human-sacrifice/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) ## More by Khalil Gibran > [Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/your-pain-is-the-breaking-of-the-shell-that-encloses-your/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [If you are poor, shun association with him who measures men with the yardstick of riches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/if-you-are-poor-shun-association-with-him-who-measures-men-with-the/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Hate is a dead thing. Who of you would be a tomb?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/hate-is-a-dead-thing-who-of-you-would-be-a-tomb/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Seek ye counsel of the aged for their eyes have looked on the faces of the years and their ears have hardened to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/seek-ye-counsel-of-the-aged-for-their-eyes-have-looked-on-the-faces/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Only once have I been made mute. It was when a man asked me, 'Who are you?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/only-once-have-i-been-made-mute-it-was-when-a-man-asked-me-who-are-you/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [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/) > [“follow the steps trust them and yourself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/follow-the-steps-trust-them-and-yourself/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Beauty is not a need but an ecstasy. It is not a mouth thirsting nor an empty hand stretched forth, But rather a heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/beauty-is-not-a-need-but-an-ecstasy-it-is-not-a-mouth-thirsting-nor/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [I have never agreed with my other self wholly. The truth of the matter seems to lie between us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/i-have-never-agreed-with-my-other-self-wholly-the-truth-of-the-matter/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [“That which sings and contemplates in you is still dwelling within the bounds of that first moment which scattered the stars into space”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/that-which-sings-and-contemplates-in-you-is-still-dwelling-within-the/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might also pray in the fullness of your joy and in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/you-pray-in-your-distress-and-in-your-need-would-that-you-might-also/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [“The veil that clouds your eyes shall be lifted by the hands that wove it, And the clay that fills your ears shall be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/the-veil-that-clouds-your-eyes-shall-be-lifted-by-the-hands-that-wove/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/work-is-love-made-visible-and-if-you-cannot-work-with-love-but-only/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [joy and sorrow are inseparable. . . together they come and when one sits alone with you . . remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/joy-and-sorrow-are-inseparable-together-they-come-and-when-one-sits/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Like the ocean is your god-self; It remains for ever undefiled. And like the ether it lifts but the winged. Even like the sun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/like-the-ocean-is-your-god-self-it-remains-for-ever-undefiled-and/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) [Explore all 688 Khalil Gibran quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) ## More Compassion quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/) [Segun Magbagbeola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/segun-magbagbeola/) > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/) [Talib al Habib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-al-habib/) > [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) [Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Do not be merciful, but be just, for mercy is bestowed upon the guilty criminal, while Justice is all that the innocent man requires.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Khalil Gibran" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/do-not-be-merciful-but-be-just-for-mercy-is-bestowed-upon-the-guilty/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compassion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/do-not-be-merciful-but-be-just-for-mercy-is-bestowed-upon-the-guilty/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff4/khalil-gibran-286_compassion_do-not-be-merciful-but-be-just-for-mercy_3091503.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff4/khalil-gibran-286_compassion_do-not-be-merciful-but-be-just-for-mercy_3091503.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff4/khalil-gibran-286_compassion_do-not-be-merciful-but-be-just-for-mercy_3091503.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Do not be merciful, but be just, for mercy is bestowed upon the guilty criminal, while Justice is all that…” — Khalil Gibran", "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": "Khalil Gibran", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Do not be merciful, but be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/do-not-be-merciful-but-be-just-for-mercy-is-bestowed-upon-the-guilty/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/do-not-be-merciful-but-be-just-for-mercy-is-bestowed-upon-the-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 } } ] } ```