--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Society takes upon itself the right to…" description: "\"“Society takes upon itself the right to inflict appalling punishment on the individual, but it also has the supreme vice of shallowness, and fails to r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/oscar-wilde-16_crime_society-takes-upon-itself-the-right-to-i_391032.jpg" --- # Society takes upon itself the right to inflict appalling… ![“Society takes upon itself the right to inflict appalling punishment on the individual, but it also has the supreme vice of shallowness, and fails to realise what it has done. When the man’s punishment is over, it leaves him to himself; that is to say, it abandons him at the very moment when its…” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/oscar-wilde-16_crime_society-takes-upon-itself-the-right-to-i_391032.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/oscar-wilde-16_crime_society-takes-upon-itself-the-right-to-i_391032.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/oscar-wilde-16_crime_society-takes-upon-itself-the-right-to-i_391032.jpg) > ““Society takes upon itself the right to inflict appalling punishment on the individual, but it also has the supreme vice of shallowness, and fails to realise what it has done. When the man’s punishment is over, it leaves him to himself; that is to say, it abandons him at the very moment when its highest duty towards him begins. It is really ashamed of its own actions, and shuns those whom it has punished, as people shun a creditor whose debt they cannot pay, or one on whom they have inflicted an irreparable, an irremediable wrong.”” [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 punishes individuals but then abandons them, failing to support rehabilitation and showing moral hypocrisy. **In simple terms:** Society judges harshly yet neglects its duty to help. Key Takeaway Recognize and address the aftermath of punishment. Themes justice society rehabilitation hypocrisy morality Mood critical thought‑provoking Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - Criminal justice reform - supporting ex‑offenders - public policy debates - community reintegration Key Concepts Punishment social responsibility redemption Questions to Reflect On - What obligations does society have after punishment? - How can we balance accountability with compassion? A Different Perspective May overlook systemic factors that cause wrongdoing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) ## Related quotes > [Society takes upon itself the right to inflict appalling punishment on the individual, but it also has the supreme vice of shallowness, and fails…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/society-takes-upon-itself-the-right-to-inflict-appalling-punishment-2/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Obviously, people who commit crimes should be punished. 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