"By the fulfillment of my legal and moral duty I think I have earned punishment just as little as the tens of thousands of dutiful German officials who have now been imprisoned only because they carried out their duties"

This quote by Wilhelm Frick is a reflection on the consequences of following orders and carrying out one's responsibilities. Frick is indicating that he, and many other German authorities, have been unjustly penalized for simply doing their job. He is recommending that they have not done anything wrong and should not be held responsible for the actions of their superiors. He is also indicating that the penalty they have actually received is unfair and unjust. By making this statement, Frick is trying to draw attention to the unfairness of the situation and to the reality that lots of innocent individuals have been punished for just following orders. He is also trying to accentuate the reality that those in power are frequently able to leave penalty for their actions, while those who are merely following orders are the ones who suffer the effects.