Justinian's Digest (De quaestionibus) 48.18.1.23

Domitius Ulpianus († 223 AD)


Theodora and her Entourage
San Vitale, Ravenna. Mosaic (527-548 AD)

Quaestioni fidem non semper nec tamen numquam habendam constitutionibus declaratur: etenim res est fragilis et periculosa et quae veritatem fallat. Nam plerique patientia sive duritia tormentorum ita tormenta contemnunt, ut exprimi eis veritas nullo modo possit: alii tanta sunt impatientia, ut quodvis mentiri quam pati tormenta velint: ita fit, ut etiam vario modo fateantur, ut non tantum se, verum etiam alios criminentur.

 It is stated in our constitutions that trust should not always be given to torture, but torture should not always be rejected.  Torture is a weak and dangerous thing that may fail the truth.  Many people have the patience and indurance to be contemptuous of torture.  The truth can never be extracted from them.  Others have so little patience that they would rather tell any kind of lie than suffer torture.  They confess to anything by implicating themselves and others in crimes.