--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Public emergencies may require the hand…" description: "\"Public emergencies may require the hand of severity to fall heavily on those who are not personally guilty, but compassion prompts, and ever urges to m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d5/mercy-otis-warren-18671_compassion_public-emergencies-may-require-the-hand_2122799.jpg" --- # Public emergencies may require the hand of severity to… ![“Public emergencies may require the hand of severity to fall heavily on those who are not personally guilty, but compassion prompts, and ever urges to milder methods” quote by Mercy Otis Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d5/mercy-otis-warren-18671_compassion_public-emergencies-may-require-the-hand_2122799.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d5/mercy-otis-warren-18671_compassion_public-emergencies-may-require-the-hand_2122799.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d5/mercy-otis-warren-18671_compassion_public-emergencies-may-require-the-hand_2122799.jpg) > “Public emergencies may require the hand of severity to fall heavily on those who are not personally guilty, but compassion prompts, and ever urges to milder methods” [Mercy Otis Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-otis-warren/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She notes that severe measures may be needed for the guilty, but compassion should guide milder approaches for the innocent. **In simple terms:** Severity for guilt; compassion for innocence. Key Takeaway Balance justice with empathy. Themes law ethics compassion Mood concerned hopeful Type political ethical When to use this quote - court sentencing - disaster response - social welfare Key Concepts proportionality humanitarianism Questions to Reflect On - When should compassion override strict law? - How do we protect the innocent without compromising justice? A Different Perspective Over‑severity can erode trust in institutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Compassion Prompts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion-prompts-4338794/) [Emergencies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emergencies/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Guilty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilty/) [Guilty Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilty-compassion-4338795/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Public Emergencies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-emergencies-4338796/) [Severity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/severity/) [Urges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urges/) [Urges Milder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urges-milder-4338797/) ## Related quotes > [Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this \[step by step, from humans to apes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us-with-so-extraordinary-a/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [...there seems to be a correlation between the intensity of the official attacks on gold and the severity of monetary crises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-f-sennholz/there-seems-to-be-a-correlation-between-the-intensity-of-the-official/) [Hans F. Sennholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-f-sennholz/) > [I had dreamed my life for nearly fifty years (I am about to be fifty-nine). But, you see, there are two tones in Les…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/i-had-dreamed-my-life-for-nearly-fifty-years-i-am-about-to-be-fifty/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [Much is said about English severity, but not a word about Irish provocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-peel/much-is-said-about-english-severity-but-not-a-word-about-irish/) [Robert Peel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-peel/) > [People notice peacemakers because they dress funny. We know how the people who make war dress - in uniforms and medals, or in computers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/people-notice-peacemakers-because-they-dress-funny-we-know-how-the/) [Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/) > [This avoidance of the difficult things of Scripture — of sinfulness and hell and God’s notable severity — is idolatrous and cowardly. 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More by Mercy Otis Warren > [The balm of life, a kind and faithful friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-otis-warren/the-balm-of-life-a-kind-and-faithful-friend/) [Mercy Otis Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-otis-warren/) > [The British were indeed very far superior to the Americans in every respect necessary to military operations, except the revivified courage and resolution, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-otis-warren/the-british-were-indeed-very-far-superior-to-the-americans-in-every/) [Mercy Otis Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-otis-warren/) > [Democratic principles are the result of equality of condition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-otis-warren/democratic-principles-are-the-result-of-equality-of-condition/) [Mercy Otis Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-otis-warren/) > [The love of domination and an uncontrolled lust of arbitrary power have prevailed among all nations and perhaps in proportion to the degrees of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-otis-warren/the-love-of-domination-and-an-uncontrolled-lust-of-arbitrary-power/) [Mercy Otis Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-otis-warren/) > [It may be a mistake, that man, in a state of nature, is more disposed to cruelty than courtesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-otis-warren/it-may-be-a-mistake-that-man-in-a-state-of-nature-is-more-disposed-to/) [Mercy Otis Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-otis-warren/) > [The origin of all power is in the people, and they have an incontestable right to check the creatures of their own creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-otis-warren/the-origin-of-all-power-is-in-the-people-and-they-have-an/) [Mercy Otis Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-otis-warren/) > [To learn to die is an heroic work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-otis-warren/to-learn-to-die-is-an-heroic-work/) [Mercy Otis Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-otis-warren/) > [The rights of the individual should be the primary object of all governments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-otis-warren/the-rights-of-the-individual-should-be-the-primary-object-of-all/) [Mercy Otis Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-otis-warren/) > [The honorable William Penn, late governor of Pennsylvania, was chosen agent to the Court of Britain, and directed to deliver the petition to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-otis-warren/the-honorable-william-penn-late-governor-of-pennsylvania-was-chosen/) [Mercy Otis Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-otis-warren/) > [The United States form a young republic, a confederacy which ought ever to be cemented by a union of interests and affection, under the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-otis-warren/the-united-states-form-a-young-republic-a-confederacy-which-ought/) [Mercy Otis Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-otis-warren/) > [A superfluity of wealth, and a train of domestic slaves, naturally banish a sense of general liberty, and nourish the seeds of that kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-otis-warren/a-superfluity-of-wealth-and-a-train-of-domestic-slaves-naturally/) [Mercy Otis Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-otis-warren/) > [But in the hero ne'er forget the man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-otis-warren/but-in-the-hero-ne-er-forget-the-man/) [Mercy Otis Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-otis-warren/) > [But truth is most likely to be exhibited by the general sense of contemporaries, when the feelings of the heart can be expressed without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-otis-warren/but-truth-is-most-likely-to-be-exhibited-by-the-general-sense-of/) [Mercy Otis Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-otis-warren/) > [“In the midst of death’s relentless power, I yet among the living stand”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-otis-warren/in-the-midst-of-death-s-relentless-power-i-yet-among-the-living-stand/) [Mercy Otis Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-otis-warren/) > [Before this address to my countrymen is closed, I beg leave to observe, that as a new century has dawned upon us, the mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-otis-warren/before-this-address-to-my-countrymen-is-closed-i-beg-leave-to-observe/) [Mercy Otis Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-otis-warren/) [Explore all 34 Mercy Otis Warren quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-otis-warren/) ## 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. 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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": "Public emergencies may require the hand of severity to fall heavily on those who are not personally guilty, but compassion prompts, and ever urges to milder methods", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mercy Otis Warren" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-otis-warren/public-emergencies-may-require-the-hand-of-severity-to-fall-heavily/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compassion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-otis-warren/public-emergencies-may-require-the-hand-of-severity-to-fall-heavily/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d5/mercy-otis-warren-18671_compassion_public-emergencies-may-require-the-hand_2122799.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d5/mercy-otis-warren-18671_compassion_public-emergencies-may-require-the-hand_2122799.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d5/mercy-otis-warren-18671_compassion_public-emergencies-may-require-the-hand_2122799.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Public emergencies may require the hand of severity to fall heavily on those who are not personally guilty…” — Mercy Otis Warren", "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": "Mercy Otis Warren", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-otis-warren/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Public emergencies may require the hand...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-otis-warren/public-emergencies-may-require-the-hand-of-severity-to-fall-heavily/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-otis-warren/public-emergencies-may-require-the-hand-of-severity-to-fall-heavily/#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 } } ] } ```