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About this quote

What does it mean?
Those who question faith should still recognize the gravity of executing someone potentially innocent by the state.
In plain terms
Even skeptics should hesitate before supporting state execution of possible victims.
What can you take from it?
Justice requires caution against irreversible errors.

Where it applies

  • legal debates
  • capital punishment
  • religious critique

Putting it to work

  • reviewing death penalty cases
  • discussing state power

Questions to consider

  • When should doubt stop legal action?
  • Who defines a victim of error?

Another view

It assumes all judicial errors are obvious to observers.

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