Full Idea
When close attendants say a man deserves death, do not listen; when all the councillors say so, do not listen; when everyone says so, have the case investigated. If he is guilty, put him to death; he was put to death by the whole country.
Gist of Idea
Only put someone to death if the whole population believes it is deserved
Source
Mengzi (Mencius) (The Mengzi (Mencius) [c.332 BCE], 1.B.7)
Book Reference
Mencius: 'Mencius', ed/tr. Lau,D.C. [Penguin 1970], p.67
A Reaction
The jury system is a gesture in this direction. Compare Idea 95. In Mencius's time, no doubt, everyone believed that capital punishment was sometimes right. Nowadays, when many people (e.g. me) reject it, the procedure won't work.
Related Idea
Idea 95 If everyone believes it, it is true [Aristotle]