corporations have neither bodies to be punished, nor souls to be damned

Definition & Meaning of "corporations have neither bodies to be punished, nor souls to be damned"in English

corporations have neither bodies to be punished, nor souls to be damned
01

used to imply that corporations may be able to engage in unethical or immoral behavior without facing the same consequences as individuals who engage in similar behavior

ProverbProverb

What is the origin of the proverb "corporations have neither bodies to be punished, nor souls to be damned" and when to use it?

The origin of the proverb "corporations have neither bodies to be punished, nor souls to be damned" can be traced to a speech made by the British politician and lawyer, Sir Edward Thurlow, in the late 18th century. He expressed this sentiment in response to the growing influence of corporations and the legal protections they received. The saying suggests that corporations, as abstract legal entities, cannot be subjected to the same moral or physical consequences as individuals. While individuals face punishment for immoral actions, corporations, with no physical form or soul, are not held accountable in the same way. This reflects concerns about the lack of accountability for corporate wrongdoing, as they can avoid the same moral or legal consequences that individuals face.

example
Examples
John shook his head as another corporation was fined a relatively small amount for environmental damage and safety violations. It just goes to show that corporations have neither bodies to be punished nor souls to be damned.
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