Body Quote by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
“Punishment is but legalized crime. In a society built on prevention, rather than retaliation, there would be very little crime. The few exceptions will be treated medically, as of unsound mind and body.”
About This Quote
Source Talk: The Nature of Crime, 1975
Crime is a socially sanctioned act; a preventive, rehabilitative approach would reduce wrongdoing.
In simple terms: Punishment is legalized crime; prevention reduces crime.
Key Takeaway
Focus on prevention and rehabilitation.
Themes
justice
ethics
prevention
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- law enforcement
- public policy
- healthcare
Key Concepts
social control
mental health
rehabilitation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies shift from retaliation to prevention?
- What role does mental health play in crime?
A Different Perspective
Changing societal attitudes toward punishment is challenging.
![“I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests with ZERO-G [a charter-flight service in Arlington, Va., that uses modified Boeing 727s to simulate weightlessness], which went great.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa1/richard-branson-256_adventure_i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-repl_903.jpg)
