The principle inherent in the clause that prohibits pointless infliction of excessive punishment when less severe punishment can adequately achieve the same purposes invalidates the punishment.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
A new principle cannot be put into effect without bringing with it new mistakes. But we may, however, be convinced that the laws of life - to which belongs the law that suffering follows the misuse of freedom - will finally be able to bring everything within its right limits.
Correcting bad habits cannot be done by forbidding or punishment.
If, at the limit, you can rule without crime, you cannot do so without injustices.
You can only punish your body so long before you're stuck with a horrendous inability to do things you'd previously been able to do.
Punishment is justice for the unjust.
People should not be imprisoned without having the ability to challenge the legality of that imprisonment.
All repressive laws must be revoked, and laws introduced to protect the rights of the people.
The penalty may be removed, the crime is eternal.
The law condemns and punishes only actions within certain definite and narrow limits; it thereby justifies, in a way, all similar actions that lie outside those limits.
If we believe in our current penal process, then the penalties imposed by judges and juries should be the only sanctions for one's crime, not the invisible sanctions of the legislature.