People crushed by law have no hopes but from power. If laws are their enemies, they will be enemies to laws.
Thomas Babington MacaulayRead
To punish a man because we infer from the nature of some doctrine which he holds, or from the conduct of other persons who hold the same doctrines with him, that he will commit a crime, is persecution, and is, in every case, foolish and wicked.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Punishing someone based on assumptions about their beliefs or the actions of others is unjust and immoral.
This quote highlights the dangers of guilt by association and the fallacy of assuming that a person's beliefs will lead them to commit wrongful acts. Macaulay warns that such persecution not only undermines justice but also reveals a foolishness in our reasoning, suggesting we should judge individuals based on their actions rather than their affiliations or doctrines.
Themes
PersecutionDoctrineBeliefsJusticeMorality
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on freedom of speech, one might reference this quote to emphasize the importance of understanding individual beliefs without prejudice.
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The highest proof of virtue is to possess boundless power without abusing it.
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That is the best government which desires to make the people happy, and knows how to make them happy.
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