Letter 204

Isidore of PelusiumUnknown|isidore pelusium
From: Isidore of Pelusium, monk at Pelusium
To: Theodosius the Presbyter
Date: ~410 AD
Context: Isidore on the relationship between mercy and justice — arguing that they are not opposites but that mercy is justice's completion.

When mercy is sought, let it be found. Mercy is not the suspension of justice — it is justice's completion. A punishment that is technically correct but without mercy has not achieved justice; it has achieved only retribution, which is a lesser thing.

This does not mean there are no situations where severity is required. There are. But the default posture of the one with authority over others should be toward mercy — not because they deserve it always, but because the one exercising authority has himself required and received mercy, and should know what it is worth.

Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.