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.

I stew all night in my own grease.

I stew all night in my own grease.

Distrust all in whom the impulse to punish is powerful.

Distrust all in whom the impulse to punish is powerful.

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 punishment which the wise suffer, who refuse to take part in government, is to live under the government of read more

The punishment which the wise suffer, who refuse to take part in government, is to live under the government of worse men

See they suffer death,
But in their deaths remember they are men,
Strain not the laws to read more

See they suffer death,
But in their deaths remember they are men,
Strain not the laws to make their tortures grievous.

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.]

Many a man spanks his children for the things his own father should have spanked out of him.

Many a man spanks his children for the things his own father should have spanked out of him.

He who does not punish evil commands it to be done.

He who does not punish evil commands it to be done.