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About this quote

What does it mean?
A judge is condemned when they let a guilty person go free.
In plain terms
Judges lose respect if they free guilty people.
What can you take from it?
Justice requires punishing the guilty.

Where it applies

  • courtrooms
  • management
  • disciplinary actions

Putting it to work

  • enforce rules consistently
  • avoid conflicts of interest

Questions to consider

  • What makes a judge credible?
  • Is mercy ever better than justice?

Another view

Sometimes innocence is mistaken for guilt or vice versa.

More from Publilius Syrus

  1. Treat your friend as if he might become an enemy.

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  2. Practice is the best of all instructors.

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  3. In tranquillo esse quisque gubernator potest.

    Permalink to quote #21

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