Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent.

Adam Smith

The Theory of Moral Sentiments

Buy The Theory of Moral Sentiments at Amazon Buy The Theory of Moral Sentiments at Amazon
Read Theory of Moral Sentiments at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

Topic

Mercy Punishment Legal theory Moral theory

Author

Adam Smith

Source

The Theory of Moral Sentiments

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Proverbs, aphorisms and adages

Language

English

Time

1759 1750s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Occupation

Philosopher Economist Writer

From

United Kingdom Europe

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Smith, Adam. The Theory of Moral Sentiments. London: Andrew Millar/Edinburgh: Alexander Kincaid and J. Bell, 1759, pt. 2, sect 2, ch. 3.

Current Citation

Smith, Adam. The Theory of Moral Sentiments, edited by Ryan Patrick Hanley. Penguin, 2010, pt. 2, sect 2, ch. 3.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Adam Smith about mercy: “Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent.”
Download
A quote by Adam Smith about mercy: “Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent.”
Download
A quote by Adam Smith about mercy: “Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent.”
Download

Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote from the 1750s

The law is a sort of hocus-pocus science.

Charles Macklin

Love a la Mode

More information about this quote
Topic
Law
Speaker
Sir Archy

Author

Charles Macklin
Source
Love a la Mode
Medium
Play
Language
English
Time
1759 1750s 18th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Macklin, Charles. Love a la Mode. c. 1759, Drury Lane Theatre, London, England, UK, act 2, sc. 1.

Another quote about Legal theory

Whoever hath an absolute authority to interpret any written, or spoken laws; it is He, who is truly the Law-giver to all intents and purposes, and not the Person who first wrote, or spoke them.

Benjamin Hoadly

More information about this quote
Topic
Legal theory Law
Speaker
Benjamin Hoadly
Medium
Sermon
Genre
Religious literature
Language
English
Time
1717 1710s 18th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Hoadly, Benjamin. "The Nature of the Kingdom, or Church, of Christ." 31 Mar. 1717, The Royal Chapel at St. James's, London, England, UK. Sermon.

Another quote from Age of Enlightenment

Where-ever Law ends, Tyranny begins.

John Locke

Two Treatises of Government

Buy the Second Treatise of Civil Government at Amazon Buy the Second Treatise of Civil Government at Amazon
Read the Second Treatise of Civil Government at Project Gutenberg
More information about this quote
Topic
Rule of law Law Tyranny Political theory Politics

Author

John Locke
Source
Second Treatise of Civil Government Two Treatises of Government
Medium
Treatise
Genre
Political literature
Language
English
Time
1690 1690s 17th century
Era
Age of Enlightenment
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Locke, John. "Second Treatise of Civil Government." Two Treatises of Government. London: Awnsham Churchill, 1690, ch. 18, sect. 202.

Current Citation

Locke, John. Second Treatise of Civil Government, edited by C. B. Macpherson. Hackett Publishing Company, 1980, ch. 18, sect. 202.

Another quote of the following type Proverbs, aphorisms and adages

Diligence is the mother of good luck.

Poor Richard (Benjamin Franklin)

Buy Poor Richard's Almanack at Amazon Buy Poor Richard's Almanack at Amazon
Read this proverb at the National Archives website
More information about this quote
Topic
Hard work Diligence Persistence Good luck Luck

Author

Poor Richard (Benjamin Franklin)
Source
Poor Richard's Almanack
Medium
Almanac
Statement Type
Proverbs, aphorisms and adages
Language
English
Time
1736 1730s 18th century
Era
Colonial America
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Franklin, Benjamin [published as Richard Saunders]. Poor Richard's Almanack. Philadelphia, 1736.

Current Citation

Franklin, Benjamin. "Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1736." Benjamin Franklin: Autobiography, Poor Richard, and Later Writings, edited by J. A. Leo Lemay. Library of America, 2005.