Judge Dykeman: Certainly. Punishment is what they need.
Gordon: Oh, no your Honor. That was the old idea of vengeance. “An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, and life for life.” Surely, we have outgrown that theory long ago! Punishment for the sake of punishment—suffering as a curative agent—has always failed.
Travesty: Who says so?
Gordon: History proves it. Torture—death itself did not stop the pursuit of science: (To Creedon): It could not exterminate the Christian faith! Punishment never halted virtue and it will never conquer vice!
(Father Creedon greatly interested.)
Judge Dykeman: What would you suggest in place of punishment?
Gordon (with enthusiasm): Reverse the principle of Punishment—make it Reward! (Astonishment of all.)
Father Creedon (puzzled and astonished): Reward for criminals!
Judge Dykeman: Ridiculous!
Gordon: Not if we approach the subject in a constructive manner, abandoning methods which are obsolete and failures and direct our energies, not to destroying but to building up! Reward! All training and labor and success is built upon it. Children are trained that way. In schools, prizes and promotions are Reward. Why does the scientist and inventor work and study and succeed! Is it because of Punishment? The explorer sails and suffers—dies! The patriots fought not through the force of fear, but for the Reward of Glory!