The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• Preface of the Translator.
• Introduction.
• An Essay On Crimes and Punishments.
• Chapter I.: Of the Origin of Punishments.
• Chapter II.: Of the Right to Punish.
• Chapter III.: Consequences of the Foregoing Principles.
• Chapter IV.: Of the Interpretation of Laws.
• Chapter V.: Of the Obscurity of Laws.
• Chapter VI.: Of the Proportion Between Crimes and Punishments.
• Chapter VII.: Of Estimating the Degree of Crimes.
• Chapter VIII.: Of the Division of Crimes.
• Chapter IX.: Of Honour.
• Chapter X.: Of Duelling.
• Chapter XI.: Of Crimes Which Disturb the Public Tranquillity.
• Chapter XII.: Of the Intent of Punishments.
• Chapter XIII.: Of the Credibility of Witnesses.
• Chapter XIV.: Of Evidence and the Proofs of a Crime, and of the Form of Judgment.
• Chapter XV.: Of Secret Accusations.
• Chapter XVI.: Of Torture.
• Chapter XVII.: Of Pecuniary Punishments.
• Chapter XVIII.: Of Oaths.
• Chapter XIX.: Of the Advantage of Immediate Punishment.
• Chapter XX.: Of Acts of Violence.
• Chapter XXI.: Of the Punishment of the Nobles.
• Chapter XXII.: Of Robbery.
• Chapter XXIII.: Of Infamy, Considered As a Punishment.
• Chapter XXIV.: Of Idleness.
• Chapter XXV.: Of Banishment, and Confiscation.
• Chapter XXVI.: Of the Spirit of Family In States.
• Chapter XXVII.: Of the Mildness of Punishments.
• Chapter XXVIII.: Of the Punishment of Death.
• Chapter XXIX.: Of Imprisonment.
• Chapter XXX.: Of Prosecution and Prescription.
• Chapter XXXI.: Of Crimes of Difficult Proof.
• Chapter XXXII.: Of Suicide.
• Chapter XXXIII.: Of Smuggling.
• Chapter XXXIV.: Of Bankrupts.
• Chapter XXXV.: Of Sanctuaries.
• Chapter XXXVI.: Of Rewards For Apprehending, Or Killing Criminals.
• Chapter XXXVII.: Of Attempts. Accomplices and Pardon.
• Chapter XXXVIII.: Of Suggestive Interrogations.
• Chapter XXXIX.: Of a Particular Kind of Crimes.
• Chapter Xl.: of False Ideas of Utility.
• Chapter Xli.: of the Means of Preventing Crimes.
• Chapter Xlii.: of the Sciences.
• Chapter Xliii.: of Magistrates.
• Chapter Xliv.: of Rewards.
• Chapter Xlv.: of Education.
• Chapter Xlvi.: of Pardons.
• Chapter Xlvii.: Conclusion.
• A Commentary On the Book of Crimes and Punishments.
• Chapter I.: The Occasion of This Commentary.
• Chapter II.: Of Punishments.
• Chapter III.: On the Punishment of Heretics.
• Chapter IV.: On the Extirpation of Heresy.
• Chapter V.: Of Profanation.
• Chapter VI.: Of the Indulgence of the Romans In Matters of Religion.
• Chapter VII.: On the Crime of Preaching; and of Anthony.
• Chapter VIII.: The History of Simon Morin.
• Chapter IX.: Of Witches.
• Chapter X.: On the Punishment of Death.
• Chapter XI.: On Death Warrants.
• Chapter XII.: On Torture.
• Chapter XIII.: Of Certain Sanguinary Tribunals.
• Chapter XIV.: On the Difference Between Political and Natural Laws.
• Chapter XV.: On the Crime of High-treason. On Titus Oates, and On the Death of Augustin De Thou.
• Chapter XVI.: Of Religious Confession.
• Chapter XVII.: Of False Money.
• Chapter XVIII.: On Domestic Theft.
• Chapter XIX.: On Suicide.
• Chapter XX.: On a Certain Species of Mutilation.
• Chapter XXI.: On Confiscation.
• Chapter XXII.: On Criminal Procedure, and Other Forms.
• Chapter XXIII.: The Idea of Reformation.

CHAPTER XX.

OF ACTS OF VIOLENCE.

Some crimes relate to person, others to property. The first ought to be punished corporally. The great and rich should by no means have it in their power to set a price on the security of the weak and indigent; for then, riches, which, under the protection of the laws, are the reward of industry, would become the aliment of tyranny. Liberty is at an end, whenever the laws permit, that, in certain cases, a man may cease to be a person, and become a thing. Then will the powerful employ their address to select from the various combinations of civil society, all that is in their own favour. This is that magic art which transforms subjects into beasts of burden, and which, in the hands of the strong, is the chain that binds the the weak and incautious. Thus it is, that in some governments, where there is all the appearance of liberty, tyranny lies concealed, and insinuates itself into some neglected corner of the constitution, where it gathers strength insensibly. Mankind generally oppose, with resolution, the assaults of barefaced and open tyranny; but disregard the little insect that gnaws through the dyke, and opens a sure, though secret, passage to inundation.