Quotes about Incarceration

If you are born in America with a black skin, you're in prison

Prison is essentially a shortage of space made up for by a surplus of time; to an inmate, both are palpable.

You don't have to go behind bars to be in jail in this country. If you are born in this country with black skin you are already in jail, you are already confined, you are already watched over by a warden who poses as your mayor and poses as your governor and poses as your President.

Only to those who have been in prison does freedom have such great meaning.

While we have prisons it matters little which of us occupy the cells.

and imprisoned them in the house of the captain of the guard, the same prison where Joseph was confined.

He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches over all my paths.’

Only to those who have been in prison does freedom have such a great meaning.

On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

Where I a pris'ner chain'd, scarce freely drawThe air imprison'd also, close and damp,Unwholsome draught; but here I feel amends,The breath of heav'n fresh blowing, pure and sweet,With day-spring born; here leave me to respire.Milton'sSampson Agonistes.

Unforgiveness denies the victim the possibility of parole and leaves them stuck in the prison of what was, incarcerating them in their trauma and relinquishing the chance to escape beyond the pain.