Megan Phelps-Roper

Whenever people would speculate about the death of my grandfather it was always this very retributive thing. That they were going to picket his funeral after all the things that he had done to so many other people. That vindictiveness is obviously completely understandable. It would make perfect sense.

American Activist

Ann Widdecombe

History is not merely a procession of people in fancy dress fighting wars. It is crucially the story of man's evolution from grunting cave dweller to serious thinker, from cruelly retributive law to merciful law, from casual barbarism to care and compassion.

British Politician

Lewis B. Smedes

Restorative justice is not a replacement of retributive justice, but a complement. It seeks the rehabilitation of the wrongdoer and the repair of the victim's injury.

American Author

Retributive justice did not arise from any Christian principle; almost every pre-Christian society dealt with wrongdoers by causing them pain.

Paddy Ashdown

I can establish the expectation of retributive justice. Have we done that? No.

Indicates a negative judgment on someone's actions, suggesting a desire for punishment.

Negative Connotation

Often used in discussions about the legal system and its focus on punishment.

Justice System

Stresses the punishment aspect, as opposed to methods that aim to reform offenders.

Not Rehabilitative

Implies a personal vendetta or getting even, not just an impartial legal judgment.

Personal Vengeance

Often associated with responses to aggression or violations in a military or armed conflict context.

Military Context

 with their herds of camels, cows, goats, odds are they would have invented what's called a culture of honor filled with warrior classes, retributive violence, clan vendettas, and amazingly, centuries later, that would still be influencing the values with which you were raised.