By their innocence and goodness, by their boundless capacity for forgiveness, and by the sheer power of their faith and hope, children redeem their parents, bringing out their best selves.
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If a company has acted badly, people want to punish it - not in order to deter future misconduct, but simply because they're outraged. And the more outraged they are, the more punishment they want to inflict.
Interpretation
What this quote means
People's desire for punishment often stems from their emotional outrage rather than a rational approach to justice.
This quote by Cass Sunstein highlights the psychological response of individuals towards wrongdoing by companies. It suggests that the motivation behind the demand for punishment is rooted in outrage rather than a desire to prevent future misconduct. The intensity of the outrage fuels a more severe demand for retribution, indicating how emotional responses can shape societal expectations of justice.
Themes
PunishmentOutrageJusticeMisconductCompany
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about corporate ethics, you might use this quote to illustrate public sentiment towards companies that act unethically.
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