Responsibility State Quote by Robert H. Jackson
““Of course, the idea that a state, any more than a corporation, commits crimes, is a fiction. Crimes always are committed only by persons. While it is quite proper to employ the fiction of responsibility of a state or corporation for the purpose of imposing a collective liability, it is quite intolerable to let such a legalism become the basis of personal immunity.””
About This Quote
Source Opinion: The New York Times, 1946
Legal responsibility rests on individuals; attributing crimes to abstract entities can create false immunity.
In simple terms: People, not states, commit crimes.
Key Takeaway
Hold individuals accountable, not just institutions.
Themes
law
ethics
responsibility
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- courtrooms
- policy debates
- corporate governance
Key Concepts
Corporate liability
collective guilt
Questions to Reflect On
- Can collective liability ever be just?
- How do we balance corporate and individual blame?
A Different Perspective
Legal fictions may obscure personal accountability.
