Authority Quote by Oscar Wilde
““As one reads history, not in the expurgated editions written for schoolboys and passmen, but in the original authorities of each time, one is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed, but by the punishments that the good have inflicted; and a community is infinitely more brutalized by the habitual employment of punishment than it is by the occasional occurrence of crime.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Soul of Man under Socialism", 1891
Society’s reliance on punishment is more damaging than occasional crime, fostering deeper cruelty.
In simple terms: Punishment harms society more than crime.
Key Takeaway
Seek humane alternatives to punishment.
Themes
justice
societal cruelty
morality
Mood
critical
thought‑provoking
Type
philosophical
social commentary
When to use this quote
- criminal justice reform
- education policy
- community conflict resolution
- restorative practices
Key Concepts
penal theory
social contract
Questions to Reflect On
- Can societies maintain safety without punitive measures?
- What role does forgiveness play in reducing systemic cruelty?
A Different Perspective
Punishment may be seen as necessary for order.
![“The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the formulas of nations at war, where any heinousness is justified on the grounds that the enemy is either an inferior [part of the] species or…” quote by Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/895/kate-millett-7301_accompany_the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imp_8896.jpg)