Character Quote by Thomas Jefferson
“Laws ... proportionate and mild should never be dispensed with. Let mercy be the character of the law-giver, but let the judge be a mere machine.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: Correspondence with James Madison, 1794
Law should be compassionate and flexible, not mechanical; judges must exercise humanity, not just enforce rules.
In simple terms: Law needs mercy, not just rigidity.
Key Takeaway
Apply compassion in justice.
Themes
law
justice
humanity
Mood
serious
considerate
Type
legal
ethical
When to use this quote
- court decisions
- policy drafting
- community mediation
- law education
Key Concepts
Legal theory
ethical governance
Questions to Reflect On
- How can judges balance law and mercy?
- When should compassion override strict rules?
A Different Perspective
May conflict with strict legal precedents.
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![“Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period and pursued unalterably through every change of ministers, too plainly prove a deliberate, systematic plan of reducing [a people] to slavery.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/00c/thomas-jefferson-43_change_single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-t_5515.jpg)
![“Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear their leading you out of [any difficult situation] in the easiest manner possible...” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ebe/thomas-jefferson-43_difficult_though-you-cannot-see-when-you-take-one_9828.jpg)
