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Cesare Beccaria

Cesare Beccaria Books

Philosopher

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“When a fixed code of laws, which must be observed to the letter, leaves no further care to the judge than to examine the acts of citizens and to decide whether or not they conform to the law as written; then the standard of the just or the unjust, which is to be the norm of conduct for the ignorant as well as for the philosophic citizen, is not a matter of controversy but of fact; then only are citizens not subject to the petty tyrannies of the many which are the more cruel as the distance between the oppressed and the oppressor is less, and which are far more fatal than those of a single man, for the despotism of many can only be corrected by the despotism of one; the cruelty of a single despot is proportioned, not to his might, but to the obstacles he encounters.”

PhilosophyLawJusticeBeccariaCrimes And Punishments
Book:On Crimes and Punishments and Other Writings
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“Una consecuencia extraña que necesariamente se deriva del uso de la tortura, es, que el inocente se hace de peor condición que el reo; puesto que aplicados ambos al tormento, el primero tiene todas las combinaciones contrarias; porque, o confiesa el delito, y es condenado, o lo niega, y declarado inocente ha sufrido una pena que no debía; pero el reo tiene un caso favorable para sí; este es, cuando resistiendo a la tortura con firmeza, debe ser absuelto como inocente; pues así ha cambiado una pena mayor por una menor. Luego el inocente debe perder, y el culpable puede ganar.”

Tortura
Book:An Essay on Crimes and Punishments
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“False is the idea of utility that sacrifices a thousand real advantages for one imaginary or trifling inconvenience; that would take fire from men because it burns, and water because one may drown in it; that has no remedy for evils except destruction. The laws that forbid the carrying of arms are laws of such a nature. They disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes.”

MenMayIdeasRealLawEvilWaterFireSacrificeCrimeArmsThousandGunAdvantageDestructionDeterminedCommitAmendmentsImaginaryRemedyGun ControlUtilitySecond AmendmentInconvenienceRight To Bear ArmsBearing ArmsGun RightsTriflingFounding Fathers GunUnarmed2 AmendmentFounding Fathers Second AmendmentDisarmingGun LawGun CrimeCarrying Guns
Book:On crimes and punishments
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“For every crime that comes before him, a judge is required to complete a perfect syllogism in which the major premise must be the general law; the minor, the action that conforms or does not conform to the law; and the conclusion, acquittal or punishment. If the judge were constrained, or if he desired to frame even a single additional syllogism, the door would thereby be opened to uncertainty.”

IfsDoeActionLawPerfectDoorsCrimeJudgingMajorsPunishmentConclusionUncertaintyMinorsConformPremisesAcquittal
Book:On crimes and punishments
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“The laws that forbid the carrying of arms...disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. Can it be supposed that those who have the courage to violate the most sacred laws of humanity...will respect the less important and arbitrary ones... Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants, they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.”

MenMayImportantLawHumanityLibertyGreaterCrimeArmsGunSacredDeterminedLibertarianCommitAmendmentsGun ControlFoundingArbitraryFreedom And LibertySelf DefenseSecond AmendmentFreedom LibertyOur Founding FathersLimited GovernmentFirearmsUs Founding FathersRight To Bear ArmsBearing ArmsGun RightsLimiting GovernmentRights And FreedomsHomicidePro GunFounding Fathers GunUnarmed2 AmendmentFounding Fathers Second AmendmentGreat LibertarianDisarmingLimiting FreedomAmendment 1Gun LawPro Gun ControlPatriotic GunGuns In AmericaGun CrimeCarrying GunsCommitting Crimes
Author:Cesare Beccaria
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