Lenity: The Power of Mercy and Gentleness in Justice and Authority

• Lenity, derived from Latin 'lenis' (soft/mild), means mildness, gentleness, and merciful forbearance, especially in judgment.
• It is a conscious choice to temper justice with compassion, not weakness, indifference, or lack of principles.
• Synonyms include leniency, clemency, mercy; antonyms are severity, harshness, rigor.
• Lenity is seen in actions like a monarch granting pardon, a teacher offering revision, or legal interpretation favoring a defendant.
• Practicing lenity requires courage to choose understanding and grace over punitive judgment, acknowledging human frailty.

Why It Matters: Lenity is the powerful virtue of tempering justice with compassion, choosing mercy and gentleness over harshness.