--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To those who would submit to the rightful…" description: "\"To those who would submit to the rightful law and authority, all gentleness and forbearance; but to the petulant and persistent secessionists, why, dea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2d/william-tecumseh-sherman-7374_authority_to-those-who-would-submit-to-the-rightfu_2063001.jpg" --- # To those who would submit to the rightful law and… ![“To those who would submit to the rightful law and authority, all gentleness and forbearance; but to the petulant and persistent secessionists, why, death is mercy, and the quicker he or she is disposed of the better. Satan and the rebellious saints of Heaven were allowed a continuous existence in…” quote by William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2d/william-tecumseh-sherman-7374_authority_to-those-who-would-submit-to-the-rightfu_2063001.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2d/william-tecumseh-sherman-7374_authority_to-those-who-would-submit-to-the-rightfu_2063001.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2d/william-tecumseh-sherman-7374_authority_to-those-who-would-submit-to-the-rightfu_2063001.jpg) > “To those who would submit to the rightful law and authority, all gentleness and forbearance; but to the petulant and persistent secessionists, why, death is mercy, and the quicker he or she is disposed of the better. Satan and the rebellious saints of Heaven were allowed a continuous existence in hell merely to swell their just punishment. To such as would rebel against a Government so mild and just as ours was in peace, a punishment equal would not be unjust.” [William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates harsh punishment for rebels, equating death with mercy for those opposing a just government. **In simple terms:** Calls for severe penalties against dissenters. Key Takeaway Enforce strict loyalty. Themes authority punishment political control Mood stern authoritarian Type political historical When to use this quote - Civil war - political dissent - law enforcement Key Concepts Moral absolutism state power Questions to Reflect On - Is extreme punishment ever justified? - What are the risks of suppressing dissent? A Different Perspective Ignores potential for reform or reconciliation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Forbearance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forbearance/) [Gentleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleness/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy/) [Persistent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persistent/) [Punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishment/) [Rebel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rebel/) [Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint/) [Satan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satan/) ## Related quotes > [ Let the punishment be equal with the offence. \[Lat., Noxiae poena par esto.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/let-the-punishment-be-equal-with-the-offence-lat-noxiae-poena-par-esto/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“Look, this is helping me out quite a bit, but could you just get to the punishment part? 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