What does this quote mean? “to punish the oppressors of humanity is clemency; to forgive them is cruelty.” -maximilian robespierre

To try and hurt the ones who supress people's rights and dreams is borderline mercy; to allow ourselves to accept their actions is hideous.

To punish oppressors of humanity is to have mercy but to forgive them is cruelty

Basically that punishing someone that has done wrong is to have mercy but to forgive them is being cruel towards ones self

Hope that helped