It is not just and proper that he who speaks ill of a bad man should be condemned on that account; for it is fitting and expedient that the crimes of bad men should be known.

Explanation

(English-origin maxim.) Truth is a defense to defamation — a man who speaks truthfully about the crimes of a wrongdoer cannot be condemned for doing so, because the public has a right to know.

Where this applies

• A journalist publishes an article exposing a corrupt politician's bribery, and the politician sues for defamation — the journalist prevails because the story was true.
• A neighbor tells others that a local contractor defrauded elderly homeowners, and the contractor's libel suit fails because the accusations are factually accurate.
• A whistleblower reveals that a company has been illegally dumping waste, and the company's attempt to sue for reputational harm is dismissed because the public has a right to know.