--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Crimes were committed to punish crimes…" description: "\"Crimes were committed to punish crimes, and crimes were committed to prevent crimes. The world has been filled with prisons and dungeons, with chains a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e7/robert-green-ingersoll-361_bows_crimes-were-committed-to-punish-crimes-a_963382.jpg" --- # Crimes were committed to punish crimes, and crimes were… ![“Crimes were committed to punish crimes, and crimes were committed to prevent crimes. The world has been filled with prisons and dungeons, with chains and whips, with crosses and gibbets, with thumbscrews and racks, with hangmen and heads-men — and yet these frightful means and instrumentalities…” quote by Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e7/robert-green-ingersoll-361_bows_crimes-were-committed-to-punish-crimes-a_963382.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e7/robert-green-ingersoll-361_bows_crimes-were-committed-to-punish-crimes-a_963382.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e7/robert-green-ingersoll-361_bows_crimes-were-committed-to-punish-crimes-a_963382.jpg) > “Crimes were committed to punish crimes, and crimes were committed to prevent crimes. The world has been filled with prisons and dungeons, with chains and whips, with crosses and gibbets, with thumbscrews and racks, with hangmen and heads-men — and yet these frightful means and instrumentalities have committed far more crimes than they have prevented… Ignorance, filth, and poverty are the missionaries of crime. As long as dishonorable success outranks honest effort — as long as society bows and cringes before the great thieves, there will be little ones enough to fill the jails.” [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Punitive systems often create more harm than they prevent, especially when rooted in ignorance and poverty. **In simple terms:** Harsh punishments can increase crime. Key Takeaway Address root causes, not just punish. Themes justice society inequality Mood critical reflective Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - prison reform - poverty alleviation - education - community policing Key Concepts deterrence social policy Questions to Reflect On - What alternatives to incarceration exist? - How can society reduce the “missionaries of crime”? A Different Perspective Reform can be politically difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chains/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Crimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crimes/) [Cringe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cringe/) [Dungeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dungeons/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Jail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jail/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison/) [Thieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thieves/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Certain crimes cannot be prevented unless there is a daily collective work done diligently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiran-bedi/certain-crimes-cannot-be-prevented-unless-there-is-a-daily-collective/) [Kiran Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiran-bedi/) > [It is better to prevent crimes than to punish them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-beccaria/it-is-better-to-prevent-crimes-than-to-punish-them/) [Cesare Beccaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-beccaria/) > [The criminals are bad specimens of human beings. 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Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-m-cioran/) > [In the name of certainty, the greatest crimes have been committed against humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-fuentes/in-the-name-of-certainty-the-greatest-crimes-have-been-committed/) [Carlos Fuentes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-fuentes/) > [The trial organized with U.N. participation of some kind will be for crimes committed by Khmer Rouge leaders from 1975 to 1979. That's it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hun-sen/the-trial-organized-with-u-n-participation-of-some-kind-will-be-for/) [Hun Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hun-sen/) ## More by Robert Green Ingersoll > [Our hope of immortality does not come from any religions, but nearly all religions come from that hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/our-hope-of-immortality-does-not-come-from-any-religions-but-nearly/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Honest investigation is utterly impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is right you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/honest-investigation-is-utterly-impossible-within-the-pale-of-any/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [I read the other day an account of a meeting between John Knox and John Calvin. 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The world has been filled with prisons and dungeons, with chains and whips, with crosses and gibbets, with thumbscrews and racks, with hangmen and heads-men — and yet these frightful means and instrumentalities have committed far more crimes than they have prevented… Ignorance, filth, and poverty are the missionaries of crime. 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