Quote Category

Too much mercy… often resulted in further crimes which were fatal to innocent victims who need not have been victims if justice had been put first and mercy second.

The law was made for one thing alone, for the exploitation of those who don’t understand it, or are prevented by naked misery from obeying it.

It is incontestable and deplorable that Negroes have committed crimes; but they are derivative crimes. They are born of the greater crimes of the white society.

An unjust law is itself a species of violence. Arrest for its breach is more so.

One of the more difficult tasks for me as president was to decide on the issue of confirming capital punishment awarded by courts… to my surprise… almost all cases which were pending had a social and economic bias.

He is a hard man who is only just, and a sad one who is only wise.

The stiffer the penalty, the greater the message is sent.

There is a higher court than courts of justice and that is the court of conscience. It supercedes all other courts.

Justice is the set and constant purpose which gives every man his due.

A weak man is just by accident. A strong but non-violent man is unjust by accident.