“History has taught us that often lies serve her better than the truth; for man is sluggish and has to be led through the desert for forty years before each step in his development. And he has to be driven through the desert with threats and promises, by imaginary terrors and imaginary consolations, so that he should not sit down prematurely to rest and divert himself by worshipping golden calves.”
― Darkness at Noon
So, let’s see if I understand this correctly: it’s not what the defendant has or has not done, it’s how badly they need him punished that matters?
Wow.