An Essay on Crimes and Punishments |
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Page xi
... weakness and misery . The intent of good laws is to oppose this effort , and to diffuse their influence universally and cqually . But men generally abandoned the care of their most impor- tant concerns to the uncertain prudence and dis ...
... weakness and misery . The intent of good laws is to oppose this effort , and to diffuse their influence universally and cqually . But men generally abandoned the care of their most impor- tant concerns to the uncertain prudence and dis ...
Page xiii
... weak , sacrificed to the cruel ignorance and in- dolence of the powerful , the barbarous torments lavished , and multiplied with useless severity , for crimes either not proved , or in their nature im- possible , the filth and horrors ...
... weak , sacrificed to the cruel ignorance and in- dolence of the powerful , the barbarous torments lavished , and multiplied with useless severity , for crimes either not proved , or in their nature im- possible , the filth and horrors ...
Page 25
... weakness of submitting blindly to their capricious and interested opinions by the sacred name of virtue . These principles will displease those who have made it a rule with themselves to transmit to their inferiors the tyranny they ...
... weakness of submitting blindly to their capricious and interested opinions by the sacred name of virtue . These principles will displease those who have made it a rule with themselves to transmit to their inferiors the tyranny they ...
Page 48
... weakness ; how peurile it is not to admit the evi- dence of those who are under sentence of death , because they are dead in law ; and how irrational to exclude persons branded with infamy ; for in all these cases they ought to be ...
... weakness ; how peurile it is not to admit the evi- dence of those who are under sentence of death , because they are dead in law ; and how irrational to exclude persons branded with infamy ; for in all these cases they ought to be ...
Page 56
... weakness of the government , they are neces- sary . This custom makes men false and treacher- Whoever suspects another to be an inform- er , beholds in him an enemy ; and from thence mankind are accustomed to disguise their real sen ...
... weakness of the government , they are neces- sary . This custom makes men false and treacher- Whoever suspects another to be an inform- er , beholds in him an enemy ; and from thence mankind are accustomed to disguise their real sen ...
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Common terms and phrases
accused actions atrocious Augustine de Thou authorised barbarity become bishop of Tours Cardinal Richelieu CHAP ciety circumstances citizen committed common condemned confession consequence consider Constantius Chlorus contradiction contrary Crimes and Punishments criminal cruel cruelty dangerous degree dependent deprived despotism destroy evil example existence extrajudicial fatal favour fear force greater greatest number guilty happiness hath high treason honour human ideas ignorance impressions imprisonment impunity increase individual infamy inflicted injury innocent interest Jesuits judge justice laws legislator less liberty magistrate mankind ment mind misery Montesquieu morality nation nature necessary necessity objects obliged offender opinion pain pardon passions penal laws perjury person political prevent crimes principle Priscillian Priscillianists proofs proportion punishment of death reason religion sensibility sentiments slavery slaves society sovereign suffer sufficient Theodosius things thou throne tion Titus Oates torment torture tribunal truth tyranny tyrants uncertainty useless violation virtue weak witness
Popular passages
Page 148 - It is better to prevent crimes, than to punish them. This is the fundamental principle of good legislation, which is the art of conducting men to the maximum of happiness, and to the minimum of misery, if we may apply this mathematical expression to the good and evil of life.
Page 104 - ... If the passions, or the necessity of war, have taught men to shed the blood of their fellow creatures, the laws; which are intended to moderate the ferocity of mankind, should not increase it by examples of barbarity, the more horrible as this punishment is usually attended with formal pa. geantry. Is it not absurd, that the laws, which detest and punish homicide, should, in order to prevent murder, publicly commit murder themselves...
Page 227 - Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.
Page 160 - In order for punishment not to be, in every instance, an act of violence of one or of many against a private citizen, it must be essentially public, prompt, necessary, the least possible in the given circumstances, proportionate to the crimes, dictated by the laws.
Page 35 - Of the Division of Crimes. We have proved then, that crimes are to be estimated by the injury done to society. This is one of those palpable truths which though evident to the meanest capacity, yet by a combination of circumstances, are only known to a few thinking men in every nation, and in every age. But opinions, worthy only of the despotism of Asia, and passions, armed with power and authority, have, generally by insensible, and sometimes by violent impressions on the timid credulity of men,...
Page 158 - To show mankind, that crimes are sometimes pardoned, and that punishment is not the necessary consequence, is to nourish the flattering hope of impunity, and is the cause of their considering every punishment inflicted as an act of injustice and oppression.
Page 99 - The death of a criminal is a terrible but momentary spectacle, and therefore a less efficacious method of deterring others than the continued example of a man deprived of his liberty, condemned, as a beast of burden, to repair, by his labour, the injury he has done to society...
Page 52 - ... nothing; or when all the proofs are dependent upon one, the number of proofs neither increase nor diminish the probability of the fact; for the force of the whole is no greater than the force of that which they depend; and if this fails, they all fall to the ground.
Page 23 - There is nothing more dangerous than the common axiom : The spirit of the laws is to be considered. To adopt it is to give way to the torrent of opinions.
Page 47 - The end of punishment, therefore, is no other than to prevent the criminal from doing further injury to society, and to prevent others from committing the like offence.