Definitions HQ

Mercy (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠as sparing of another’s blood as of its own, knowing that man is not to be wasted by man.

Mercy (n.) judges ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠not by legal formula but by what is fair and good; it aims not at less than justice but at the justest outcome possible.

Mercy (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠not acquittal: it judges the fault, then, seeing how such things come to happen, bends the penalty this side of what justice could demand.

Mercy (n.) as ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the tyrant practiced it: the same night he killed the sons, he killed their fathers too — the soft-hearted man freed them from their grief.

Mercy (n.) to ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a fallen equal is perfect vengeance: owing your life to someone is tantamount to losing it, and the spared man remains a perpetual showpiece of his savior's virtue.

Mercy (n.) can ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠come with a humiliation attached: Caligula spared a senator's life, then held out his left foot to be kissed for the acquittal, like a conquered enemy's.

Mercy (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the one lawbreaking reserved to the sovereign: any man may break the law by taking a life, but only the ruler can break it by saving one.