Emerson argues that when formal law is perceived as too weak to address wrongdoing, individuals may attempt to impose punishment themselves. The statement contrasts public justice, administered through legal institutions, with private vengeance driven by personal grievance. His concern is that inadequate enforcement can create a vacuum in which retaliation replaces lawful judgement.

Within Compensation, the remark serves Emerson’s broader argument that imbalances tend to produce counteracting consequences. A legal system that is excessively lenient, in his formulation, may invite harsher responses outside the law. The point is not a detailed theory of criminal justice, nor an endorsement of vengeance. Rather, Emerson uses the example to show that institutions must balance restraint with sufficient authority to maintain order and public confidence. The quotation therefore highlights the relationship between effective law, legitimacy and the prevention of private retaliation.