--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be fair to the Inquisition, they only…" description: "\"To be fair to the Inquisition, they only used confessions extracted after the torture had ended, which let them claim that admissions had been freely g..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/simon-hoggart-10883_admission_to-be-fair-to-the-inquisition-they-only_1826079.jpg" --- # To be fair to the Inquisition, they only used confessions… ![“To be fair to the Inquisition, they only used confessions extracted after the torture had ended, which let them claim that admissions had been freely given; the fact that the torture would have started again if they hadn't confessed was a minor detail.” quote by Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/simon-hoggart-10883_admission_to-be-fair-to-the-inquisition-they-only_1826079.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/simon-hoggart-10883_admission_to-be-fair-to-the-inquisition-they-only_1826079.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/simon-hoggart-10883_admission_to-be-fair-to-the-inquisition-they-only_1826079.jpg) > “To be fair to the Inquisition, they only used confessions extracted after the torture had ended, which let them claim that admissions had been freely given; the fact that the torture would have started again if they hadn't confessed was a minor detail.” [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Inquisition claimed confessions were voluntary, yet they threatened torture to coerce compliance, revealing a façade of fairness. **In simple terms:** Inquisition pretended fairness while using threat of torture. Key Takeaway Recognize hidden coercion in claims of freedom. Themes ethics power justice Mood cynical critical Type historical political When to use this quote - historical analysis - human rights law - political discourse Key Concepts coercion legal manipulation Questions to Reflect On - How does power corrupt claims of fairness? - What safeguards prevent such abuse? A Different Perspective The claim of fairness masks underlying intimidation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Admission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admission/) [After](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/after/) [Again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/again/) [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Claim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/claim/) [Confessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confessions/) [Detail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/detail/) [Ended](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ended/) [Extracted Torture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extracted-torture-2234058/) [Fact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fact/) [Fair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fair/) [Fair Inquisition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fair-inquisition-2234056/) [Freely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freely/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Had](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/had/) [Inquisition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inquisition/) [Inquisition Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inquisition-used-2234055/) [Minor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minor/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [Torture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torture/) [Torture Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torture-started-2234057/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Which](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/which/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/) ## Related quotes > [“the inquisitors of yesteryear knew only too well, as do the country snatchers of today: torture is useless for protecting people. It is only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/the-inquisitors-of-yesteryear-knew-only-too-well-as-do-the-country/) [Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/) > [I love Usher's 'Confessions.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mnek/i-love-usher-s-confessions/) [MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) > [“...and I decide to stop inwardly composing the feminist world court's prosecutorial summation to the jury.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-viera-rigler/and-i-decide-to-stop-inwardly-composing-the-feminist-world-court-s/) [Laurie Viera Rigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-viera-rigler/) > [Uncalled for excuses are practical confessions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-simmons/uncalled-for-excuses-are-practical-confessions/) [Charles Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-simmons/) > [You're just a recent caught up sprung confessional ex. \*DONE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-re-just-a-recent-caught-up-sprung-confessional-ex-done/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Tulse Luper, who without too many confessions, in a sense, is a fictive version of me. I have to say he has far more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/tulse-luper-who-without-too-many-confessions-in-a-sense-is-a-fictive/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) > [“Fantastic,” I said without an ounce of enthusiasm. “I’m just one more embarrassing confession away from taking over the world.” --Spencer Nye”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-letts/fantastic-i-said-without-an-ounce-of-enthusiasm-i-m-just-one-more/) [Jason Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-letts/) > [“He’s a steamroller in my life and I like to be laid out flat. I like his hands on my chest, pushing me down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-a-lord/he-s-a-steamroller-in-my-life-and-i-like-to-be-laid-out-flat-i-like/) [Laura A. Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-a-lord/) > [“It's not the right word, Eva," he pressed on stubbornly, his lips at my ear. "That's why I haven't said it. It's not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/it-s-not-the-right-word-eva-he-pressed-on-stubbornly-his-lips-at-my/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [I have heard thousands of confessions, but never one of covetousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-xavier/i-have-heard-thousands-of-confessions-but-never-one-of-covetousness/) [Francis Xavier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-xavier/) > [Always our wars have been our confessions of weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-rukeyser/always-our-wars-have-been-our-confessions-of-weakness/) [Muriel Rukeyser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-rukeyser/) > [“..wer am meisten genießt, betet am meisten.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-b-chner/wer-am-meisten-genie-t-betet-am-meisten/) [Georg Büchner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-b-chner/) > [“When it comes to the crunch, coming out is the greatest of all confessions. Nothing is more difficult to acknowledge. When we become ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witi-ihimaera/when-it-comes-to-the-crunch-coming-out-is-the-greatest-of-all/) [Witi Ihimaera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witi-ihimaera/) > [I have no interest in writing confessions, in deliberately baring myself to my readers. I prefer to remain behind a screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-begley/i-have-no-interest-in-writing-confessions-in-deliberately-baring/) [Louis Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-begley/) > [“Some disquieting confessions must be made in printing at last the play of Peter Pan; among them this, that I have no recollection of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-barrie/some-disquieting-confessions-must-be-made-in-printing-at-last-the/) [J.M. Barrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-barrie/) ## More by Simon Hoggart > [If you read the 'Daily Mail,' you would imagine that the British middle classes lead lives of unremitting misery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/if-you-read-the-daily-mail-you-would-imagine-that-the-british-middle/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [What puzzles me is the way that some of the smaller, unknown chateaux imagine that because Chinese millionaires pay ludicrous sums for the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/what-puzzles-me-is-the-way-that-some-of-the-smaller-unknown-chateaux/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [In Washington, success is just a training course for failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/in-washington-success-is-just-a-training-course-for-failure/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [I'm often amazed at the way politicians, who spend hours poring over opinion poll results in a desperate attempt to discover what the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/i-m-often-amazed-at-the-way-politicians-who-spend-hours-poring-over/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [America loves the representation of its heroes to be not just larger than life, but stupendously, awesomely bigger than anything else. If blue whales…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/america-loves-the-representation-of-its-heroes-to-be-not-just-larger/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [I know of no wars started by anyone to impose lack of religion on someone else. We have lethal Sunni v Shia, Catholic against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/i-know-of-no-wars-started-by-anyone-to-impose-lack-of-religion-on/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [Poor Harper Seven Beckham, having to live with that name all her life. It's the Boy Named Sue syndrome; at the very least it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/poor-harper-seven-beckham-having-to-live-with-that-name-all-her-life/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [Peter Mandelson is the only man I know who can skulk in broad daylight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/peter-mandelson-is-the-only-man-i-know-who-can-skulk-in-broad-daylight/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [It's sad that the BBC is toning down Dennis the Menace for a cartoon series. He is losing his weapons, catapult and peashooter, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/it-s-sad-that-the-bbc-is-toning-down-dennis-the-menace-for-a-cartoon/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [While it is entirely untrue that Canadians lack a sense of humour, the funniest ones tend to head south: Dan Aykroyd, Jim Carrey, Michael…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/while-it-is-entirely-untrue-that-canadians-lack-a-sense-of-humour-the/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [Reagan is the only man to take the presidency as a part-time job, a means of filling up the otherwise empty hours of retirement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/reagan-is-the-only-man-to-take-the-presidency-as-a-part-time-job-a/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [I think Tony Blair has to come down on one side or the other. You can't be a half-hearted supporter of the possible attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/i-think-tony-blair-has-to-come-down-on-one-side-or-the-other-you-can/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [Reagan was a flesh and blood version of any other mute national emblem, say the Statue of Liberty. Everyone knows what she represents, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/reagan-was-a-flesh-and-blood-version-of-any-other-mute-national/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [Every time humanists try to get a slot on 'Thought For the Day' on Radio 4, they are told it's reserved for 'the faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/every-time-humanists-try-to-get-a-slot-on-thought-for-the-day-on/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [Americans are fascinated by their own love of shopping. This does not make them unique. It's just that they have more to buy than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/americans-are-fascinated-by-their-own-love-of-shopping-this-does-not/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) [Explore all 63 Simon Hoggart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) ## More Admission quotes > [I wonder how long it would take him to realize I'm right as sin - it's the rest of the world that's wrong. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/i-wonder-how-long-it-would-take-him-to-realize-i-m-right-as-sin-it-s/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [In Hollywood, not to have an analyst is virtually an admission of failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-vanderbilt/in-hollywood-not-to-have-an-analyst-is-virtually-an-admission-of/) [Amy Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-vanderbilt/) > [Pride is an admission of weakness; it secretly fears all competition and dreads all rivals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/pride-is-an-admission-of-weakness-it-secretly-fears-all-competition/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [Do you trust me? The question is usually asked before an admission that such trust is misplaced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-j-watson/do-you-trust-me-the-question-is-usually-asked-before-an-admission/) [S.J. Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-watson/) > [Strong men don't compromise, it is said, and principles should never be compromised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/strong-men-don-t-compromise-it-is-said-and-principles-should-never-be/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [Silly ideas, worth the admission price in smiles, but they're true. Is high-energy physics interesting because it's true or because it's crazy?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/silly-ideas-worth-the-admission-price-in-smiles-but-they-re-true-is/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [He's the kind of player that is worth the price of admission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-feaster/he-s-the-kind-of-player-that-is-worth-the-price-of-admission/) [Jay Feaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-feaster/) > [However, I had a chance encounter with an admissions officer of Stevens Institute of Technology, who so impressed me by his erudition and enthusiasm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-reines/however-i-had-a-chance-encounter-with-an-admissions-officer-of/) [Frederick Reines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-reines/) > [African American children can't be educationally disadvantaged for 12 years and then experience a miracle cure when it comes time for admission into college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaka-fattah/african-american-children-can-t-be-educationally-disadvantaged-for-12/) [Chaka Fattah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaka-fattah/) > [The interval allowed was only five minutes, at the end of which I resumed the lecture; but so refreshing was the effects of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-combe/the-interval-allowed-was-only-five-minutes-at-the-end-of-which-i/) [George Combe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-combe/) > [Look around. Take the tour. Fear hangs on the wall and shame sometimes. Emotional dislocation too. But I am brave in my admission. Are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-grimes/look-around-take-the-tour-fear-hangs-on-the-wall-and-shame-sometimes/) [Nikki Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-grimes/) > [We hear much nowadays as to the speculative ideas of men concerning the condition beyond the grave; but the admission that there is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-talmage/we-hear-much-nowadays-as-to-the-speculative-ideas-of-men-concerning/) [James E. Talmage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-talmage/) > [A full and candid admission of one's mistakes should make proof against its repetition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/a-full-and-candid-admission-of-one-s-mistakes-should-make-proof/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [In poor environment, I find great inspiration. Many of the men and women whom I admire as artists, the things they write, the songs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/in-poor-environment-i-find-great-inspiration-many-of-the-men-and/) [Harry Belafonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/) > [I like to pretend that I'm a tough guy. It's kind of an admission of defeat if I have to ask for help -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-louise-parker/i-like-to-pretend-that-i-m-a-tough-guy-it-s-kind-of-an-admission-of/) [Mary-Louise Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-louise-parker/) [Browse all 242 Admission quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admission/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To be fair to the Inquisition, they only used confessions extracted after the torture had ended, which let them claim that admissions had been freely given; the fact that the torture would have started again if they hadn't confessed was a minor detail.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Simon Hoggart" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/to-be-fair-to-the-inquisition-they-only-used-confessions-extracted/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Admission" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/to-be-fair-to-the-inquisition-they-only-used-confessions-extracted/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/simon-hoggart-10883_admission_to-be-fair-to-the-inquisition-they-only_1826079.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/simon-hoggart-10883_admission_to-be-fair-to-the-inquisition-they-only_1826079.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/simon-hoggart-10883_admission_to-be-fair-to-the-inquisition-they-only_1826079.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To be fair to the Inquisition, they only used confessions extracted after the torture had ended, which let…” — Simon Hoggart", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Simon Hoggart", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To be fair to the Inquisition,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/to-be-fair-to-the-inquisition-they-only-used-confessions-extracted/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/to-be-fair-to-the-inquisition-they-only-used-confessions-extracted/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```