Full Idea
Crime belongs to the concept 'rebellion against the social order'. One does not punish a rebel, one suppresses him. …The concept of punishment should be reduced to the concept of quelling a rebellion.
Gist of Idea
Crime is a rebellion against social order, so punishment should be the quelling of rebels
Source
Friedrich Nietzsche (Fragments from 1886-87 (v 17) [1887], 10[050])
A Reaction
This seems to fit the actual practice of the law quite accurately. Recently we have pounced on rebels against the oil industry, or against defenders of Israel, even when they do little actual harm.
Book Reference
Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'Fragments from 1886-87 (v 17)', ed/tr. Leiner, George H. [Stanford 2025], p.255