Crime Quote by Marquis de Sade
“Any punishment that does not correct, that can merely rouse rebellion in whoever has to endure it, is a piece of gratuitous infamy which makes those who impose it more guilty in the eyes of humanity, good sense and reason, nay a hundred times more guilty than the victim on whom the punishment is inflicted.”
About This Quote
Source Treatise: Philosophical Thoughts on Punishment, 1795
Punishment that fails to reform incites rebellion and deepens the perpetrator’s guilt.
In simple terms: Harsh punishment breeds resistance and moral blame.
Key Takeaway
Use restorative justice, not cruelty.
Themes
justice
morality
authority
Mood
serious
reflective
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- criminal justice
- education
- parenting
Key Concepts
reform
human rights
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance accountability with compassion?
- What alternatives reduce both rebellion and guilt?
A Different Perspective
Reform alone may not deter all offenders.
![“The law which attempts a man's life [capital punishment] is impractical, unjust, inadmissible. It has never repressed crime--for a second crime is every day committed at the foot of the scaffold.” quote by Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b85/marquis-de-sade-1964_capital-punishment_the-law-which-attempts-a-man-s-life-capi_99486.jpg)
