--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To punish a man because he has committed…" description: "\"To punish a man because he has committed a crime, or because he is believed, though unjustly, to have committed a crime, is not persecution. To punish ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/253/thomas-b-macaulay-1980_atheism_to-punish-a-man-because-he-has-committed_3086060.png" --- # To punish a man because he has committed a crime, or… ![“To punish a man because he has committed a crime, or because he is believed, though unjustly, to have committed a crime, is not persecution. To punish a man, because we infer from the nature of some doctrine which he holds, or from the conduct of other persons who hold the same doctrines with him…” quote by Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/253/thomas-b-macaulay-1980_atheism_to-punish-a-man-because-he-has-committed_3086060.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/253/thomas-b-macaulay-1980_atheism_to-punish-a-man-because-he-has-committed_3086060.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/253/thomas-b-macaulay-1980_atheism_to-punish-a-man-because-he-has-committed_3086060.png) > “To punish a man because he has committed a crime, or because he is believed, though unjustly, to have committed a crime, is not persecution. To punish a man, because we infer from the nature of some doctrine which he holds, or from the conduct of other persons who hold the same doctrines with him, that he will commit a crime, is persecution, and is, in every case, foolish and wicked.” [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Punishing someone based on belief or doctrine, without actual crime, is persecution and morally wrong. **In simple terms:** Punishment without crime is unjust persecution. Key Takeaway Avoid punishing based on belief alone. Themes justice law morality persecution Mood serious thoughtful Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - court rulings - policy making - civil rights activism - education - null Key Concepts ethical jurisprudence human rights Questions to Reflect On - When is belief enough for legal action? - How to protect rights while ensuring safety? A Different Perspective Balancing security and freedom is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Cases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cases/) [Commit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commit/) [Committed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/committed/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Crime Persecution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime-persecution-1899247/) [Diversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diversity/) [Doctrine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctrine/) [Foolish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foolish/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Persecution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persecution/) [Persecution Punish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persecution-punish-5284950/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Positive atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-atheism/) [Punish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punish/) [Punish Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punish-man-1899246/) [Social justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-justice/) [Wicked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wicked/) ## Related quotes > [To punish a man because we infer from the nature of some doctrine which he holds, or from the conduct of other persons who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-punish-a-man-because-we-infer-from-the-nature-of-some-doctrine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There’s no better way for a woman to punish a man than to make him sleep away from her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-ramirez/there-s-no-better-way-for-a-woman-to-punish-a-man-than-to-make-him/) [Steven Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-ramirez/) > [Imploring people I never met to pressure a government with better things to do to punish a man who meant no harm for something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-flanders/imploring-people-i-never-met-to-pressure-a-government-with-better/) [Ned Flanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-flanders/) > [“How do you punish a man when your heart beats in his chest? 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We’ll talk about it when we get home.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/he-hung-his-head-am-i-punished-yes-i-m-too-mad-to-punish-you-right/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [People who cannot feel punish those who do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/people-who-cannot-feel-punish-those-who-do/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [Don't punish your next boyfriend for what an ex did. Not all men are the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-punish-your-next-boyfriend-for-what-an-ex-did-not-all-men-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Laws undertake to punish only overt acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/laws-undertake-to-punish-only-overt-acts/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Thomas B. 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