Good men hate sin through love of virtue; bad men, through fear of punishment.

Explanation

The law serves both the virtuous and the wicked — it reinforces the good man's conscience and restrains the bad man's appetite through the credible threat of consequences.

Where this applies

• Good people avoid wrongdoing because it's wrong — bad people avoid it only because they're afraid of punishment.
• Without the threat of enforcement, some people would have no reason to follow the law.

See also

• 7.6.5 It is not lawful to do evil that good may come of it.
• 7.8.1 Crimes are more effectively prevented by certainty than by severity of punishment.