Prejudices are what fools use for reason.
VoltaireRead
It is better to risk saving a guilty man than to condemn an innocent one.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the moral importance of prioritizing the protection of the innocent over the punishment of the guilty.
Voltaire's quote highlights a fundamental ethical dilemma in justice: it is preferable to err on the side of caution by saving someone who may be guilty rather than mistakenly punishing an innocent person. This reflects a deep concern for human rights and the potential consequences of wrongful accusations and judgments, reminding us that the value of a single innocent life outweighs the risk of freeing a potentially guilty one.
Themes
JusticeInnocenceGuiltMoralityEthics
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on the justice system, this quote can remind us of the importance of due process.
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If God did not exist, He would have to be invented. But all nature cries aloud that he does exist: that there is a supreme intelligence, an immense power, an admirable order, and everything teaches us our own dependence on it.
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