"Men simply copied the realities of their hearts when they built prisons"

The quote by Richard Wright indicates that the building and construction of jails was a reflection of the negative elements of the human heart. The word "truths" suggests that these unfavorable elements are factual and present in society. The act of building a jail was a symptom of these negative elements, such as greed and worry, that are common in humanity. The word "simply" suggests that the act of building jails was not an intentional option however rather an instinctual reaction to these negative truths in the world. This quote recommends that the reasons for developing jails are deeply rooted in human nature which the building and construction of these facilities is an inevitable repercussion of our flaws as people.