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"Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent."

— Adam Smith

Mercy To The Guilty Is Cruelty

Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent.

— Adam Smith
justice law morality

About this quote

From The Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759), Part II, Section II, Chapter 3. Smith presents justice as a matter of protecting the innocent, not of showing leniency to wrongdoers. The remark reflects his view that a functioning society requires impartial enforcement of rules: mercy toward the guilty, left unchecked, undermines the rule of law and harms those who follow it.

Source

The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Part II, Section II, Chapter 3 (1759)

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