The Count of Monte Cristo Justice and Judgment Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #7

"Poor young man!" Monte Cristo muttered, so low that even he could not hear these words of compassion as he spoke them. "It is written that the sins of the father shall be visited on the sons, even to the third and fourth generation." (85.135)

As far as Monte Cristo is concerned, Justice is a powerful and unrelenting force.

Quote #8

"If he is arrested […] listen, I hear the prisons are overflowing—well, leave him in prison."

The crown prosecutor shook his head.

"At least until my daughter is married," the baroness added.

"Impossible, Madame. The law has its procedures."

"Even for me?" the baroness asked, half joking, half serious.

"For everyone," Villefort replied. "And for me as for everyone else." (99.80-85)

Though he may be corrupt, Villefort upholds the basic tenets of the law. He is impartial – at least in this case.

Quote #9

Villefort drew his chair up close to that of Mme Danglars and, resting both hands on his desk and adopting a more subdued tone than usual, he said: "there are crimes that go unpunished because the criminals are not known and one is afraid of striking an innocent head instead of a guilty one; but when these criminals are discovered—" here Villefort reached out his hand towards a crucifix hanging opposite his desk and repeated "—when these criminals are discovered, by the living God, Madame, whoever they are, they shall die! Now, after the oath I have just sworn, and which I shall keep, do you dare, Madame, to ask my pardon for that wretch?" (99.94)

Villefort does advocate what you might call extrajudicial justice, out-of-court justice, in certain cases. Some decisions regarding innocence and guilt are not meant to be made at the assizes. You can put this one in the same category as a duel.