--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As one reads history, not in the…" description: "\"“As one reads history, not in the expurgated editions written for schoolboys and passmen, but in the original authorities of each time, one is absolute..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/459/oscar-wilde-16_authority_as-one-reads-history-not-in-the-expurgat_193338.jpg" --- # As one reads history, not in the expurgated editions… ![“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…” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/459/oscar-wilde-16_authority_as-one-reads-history-not-in-the-expurgat_193338.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/459/oscar-wilde-16_authority_as-one-reads-history-not-in-the-expurgat_193338.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/459/oscar-wilde-16_authority_as-one-reads-history-not-in-the-expurgat_193338.jpg) > ““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.”” [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Brutalized Habitual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutalized-habitual-2036862/) [Committed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/committed/) [Committed Punishments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/committed-punishments-2036863/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Employment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employment/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [History Expurgated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-expurgated-2036861/) [Infinitely Brutalized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infinitely-brutalized-2036864/) [Occasional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occasional/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishment/) [Sickened Crimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sickened-crimes-2036860/) [Wicked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wicked/) ## Related quotes > [As one reads history ... one is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed, but by the punishments that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/as-one-reads-history-one-is-absolutely-sickened-not-by-the-crimes/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [There can be nothing more frequent than an occasional drink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/there-can-be-nothing-more-frequent-than-an-occasional-drink/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [A community is infinitely more brutalised by the habitual employment of punishment than it is by the occasional occurence of crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/a-community-is-infinitely-more-brutalised-by-the-habitual-employment/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [A Grand Design we couldn't see because we were part of it. 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