That is the bitterest of all,--to wear the yoke of our own
wrong-doing.

That is the bitterest of all,--to wear the yoke of our own
wrong-doing.

If punishment makes not the will supple it hardens the offender.

If punishment makes not the will supple it hardens the offender.

He is next to the gods whom reason, and not passion, impels; and
who, after weighing the facts, can read more

He is next to the gods whom reason, and not passion, impels; and
who, after weighing the facts, can measure the punishment with
discretion.
[Lat., Diis proximus ille est
Quem ratio non ira movet: qui factor rependens
Consilio punire potest.]

The best of us being unfit to die, what an unexpressible absurdity to put the worst to death.

The best of us being unfit to die, what an unexpressible absurdity to put the worst to death.

Men simply copied the realities of their hearts when they built prisons

Men simply copied the realities of their hearts when they built prisons

Men are rewarded or punished not for what they do but for how their acts are defined. That is why read more

Men are rewarded or punished not for what they do but for how their acts are defined. That is why men are more interested in better justifying themselves than in better behaving themselves.

Distrust all in whom the impulse to punish is powerful.

Distrust all in whom the impulse to punish is powerful.

When the gods wish to punish us they answer our prayers.

When the gods wish to punish us they answer our prayers.

Care should be taken that the punishment does not exceed the
guilt; and also that some men do not read more

Care should be taken that the punishment does not exceed the
guilt; and also that some men do not suffer for offenses for
which others are not even indicted.
[Lat., Cavendum est ne major poena quam culpa sit; et ne iisdem
de causis alii plectantur, alii ne appellentur quidem.]