The Political Testament of Cardinal Richelieu: The Significant Chapters and Supporting Selections

V. The Uses of Punishments and Rewards (Complete)

CHAPTER V THE USES OF PUNISHMENTS AND REWARDS m It is a common but nevertheless true saying which has long been repeated by intelligent men that punishments and rewards are the two most important instruments of government in a realm. It is certain that, whatever else one may do in governing states, one must be inflexible in punishing those who fail to obey, and religiously scrupulous in rewarding those who perform notable services. In other words, one would not govern badly if guided by this precept since most people can be held to their duty through either fear or hope. I rate punishments, I must say, higher than rewards, because if it were necessary to dispense with one of these, it would be better to give up the latter than the former. The good ought to be adhered to for its own sake, and in all justice no one should be rewarded for this. But there is no crime which does not violate those precepts men are obligated to obey, so that the punishment to be 84 REWARDS 8S expected for disobedience of this sort is therefore justified , and this obligation is so direct in many cases that to let the act go unpunished is to commit a further error.20 I speak here of things which injure the state and which have been premeditated, and not of those lesser offenses which result from chance or misfortune, toward which princes may and should often show indulgence. But while in matters of this sort it can be praiseworthy to pardon, it is a criminal omission not to punish breaches which open the door to licentious abandon. Both theologians and political experts agree that on special occasions it would be an error not to pardon certain individuals , but it would be inexcusable for those charged with public responsibilities to substitute indulgence for severe punishment. Experience teaches those who have had long practice in this world that men easily lose the memory of rewards and, when they are heaped with them, they expect even more, and become both ambitious and ungrateful at the same time. This teaches us to realize that punishments are a surer means of holding a person to his duty, since people are less likely to forget what has made an impression on their emotions. This is more persuasive for most men than reason, which has little power over many minds. To be severe in dealing with private individuals who glory in disobeying the laws and orders of the state makes a good impression on the people, and one can commit no 20 Here Richelieu is describing one of his basic views. 86 PUNISHMENTS greater crime against the public interest than to be indulgent toward those who violate them. In thinking over the many cabals, factions, and plottings which have occurred in this realm in my time, I can recall none in which leniency induced any person with evil inclinations to rectify the error of his ways. All ordinarily returned to their mischief, usually with greater effect the second time than the first, because they had become more cunning . The indulgence practiced hitherto in this realm often created extensive and deplorable difficulties. Misdeeds going unpunished, each official exploited his office, and without the slightest regard for the responsibilities of his function he only considered what further profit he might derive from it for himself. Ifthe men of old thought that it was dangerous to live under a prince who was relentless in enforcing the law, they also noted that it was even worse to live In a state where indulgence opened the door to all sorts of license. Any prince or magistrate who fears that he will exercise too great a rigor should hold himself accountable to God and worry about the censure of wise men only if he fails to do what the law prescribes. I have often pressed upon Your Majesty, and I beseech you again now, to remember that although there are many princes who need to be dissuaded from severity in order to prevent unnecessary cruelty, in Your Majesty's case the need is rather to be diverted from an unfounded clemency. The latter is more dangerous than cruelty even, since leniency gives AND REWARDS rise to the ultimately necessary exercise of a degree of cruelty which could have been avoided by the employment of an efficacious punishment at an earlier time. The rod...