What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.
George Bernard ShawRead
While we have prisons it matters little which of us occupy the cells.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that the existence of prisons is a societal issue, making it irrelevant who is imprisoned.
George Bernard Shaw's quote highlights the deeper implications of imprisonment in society. It implies that the true concern lies not in the individuals within the prisons but in the societal structures that necessitate their existence. The presence of prisons reflects a broader failure of the justice system and society itself, raising questions about freedom, morality, and the human condition.
Themes
PrisonSocietyJusticeFreedomPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about criminal justice reforms.
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Forgive him, for he believes that the customs of his tribe are the laws of nature!
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Those who talk most about the blessings of marriage and the constancy of its vows are the very people who declare that if the chain were broken and the prisoners left free to choose, the whole social fabric would fly asunder. You cannot have the argument both ways. If the prisoner is happy, why lock him in? If he is not, why pretend that he is?
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Treat a friend as a person who may someday become your enemy; an enemy as a person who may someday become your friend.
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The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.
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To God the Father, God the Son, And God the Spirit, Three in One, Be honour, praise, and glory given By all on earth, and all in heaven.
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