A delinquent provoked by anger ought to be punished more mildly.

Explanation

(English-origin maxim.) A wrongdoer who acted under provocation of anger deserves a lighter punishment than one who acted with deliberate calculation — invoke this in mitigation at sentencing.

Where this applies

• A man punches another after being taunted with racial slurs for ten minutes; the court convicts him of assault but imposes a lighter sentence because the provocation mitigates his culpability.
• A defendant smashes a car window after watching the owner deliberately run over his dog; the judge reduces the charge from felony to misdemeanor vandalism, recognizing the provocation of extreme anger.
• A worker shoves his supervisor after being publicly humiliated and berated; the disciplinary board still fires him but recommends a reduced penalty because the offense was provoked by anger rather than premeditated.