Friday, September 25, 2009

Tolkien on the death penalty?

"Many who live deserve death, and many who die deserve life, can you give it to them? Then be not to quick to deal out death in the name of justice, fearing for you own safety, not even the wise see all ends." -J.R.R Tolkien

2 comments:

Gordon Knight said...

Tolkein was one sharp cookie. We need to distinguis the abstract philosophical question " are there people who deserve to die" from the real question, "ought the government be allowed to determine who is to die"

Dan Lower said...

For whatever reason seeing this quotation brings to mind:

"The measure you use will be measured to you."

Don't know if that's what Tolkien was thinking but it seemed relevant.