I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not relieve.
Baron De MontesquieuRead
The mood and temper of the public in regard to the treatment of crime and criminals is one of the most unfailing tests of the civilisation of any country.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights that the way a society treats crime and criminals reflects its level of civilization.
Baron De Montesquieu suggests that a country's civilization can be gauged by its public sentiment towards crime and the treatment of criminals. He implies that the prevailing mood and attitude of society towards justice and punishment indicate the moral and ethical standards upheld within that society. Thus, a compassionate response to crime signifies a more advanced civilization, while harsh and unjust treatment may reflect a degradation of societal values.
Themes
CivilizationJusticeCrimeSocietyTreatment
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about criminal justice reform.
More from Baron De Montesquieu
All quotes βLaw in general is human reason, inasmuch as it governs all the inhabitants of the earth: the political and civil laws of each nation ought to be only the particular cases in which human reason is applied.
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To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them.
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Love of the republic in a democracy, is a love of the democracy; love of the democracy is that of equality. Love of the democracy is likewise that of frugality.
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It is not the young people that degenerate; they are not spoiled till those of mature age are already sunk into corruption.
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If you would be holy, instruct your children, because all the good acts they perform will be imputed to you.
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