“That’s nothing to be surprised about. For this manner of punishing thieves goes beyond justice, and brings no public benefit: as a penalty for theft it’s too severe, but as a deterrent it’s inadequate. Simple theft isn’t so great a crime that it merits death, and yet no other punishment is severe enough to keep from robbery those who have no alternative means of supporting themselves. In this respect you, along with a good part of the world, appear to imitate bad schoolmasters who prefer beating their pupils to teaching them. Harsh and blood-chilling punishments are imposed for theft when it
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