Malice is sour, it is the quality of a bad mind.

Explanation

(English-origin maxim.) Malice is the hallmark of a corrupt mind — where malice is proved, the law infers a disposition hostile to the rights of others and punishes accordingly.

Where this applies

• A prosecutor proves that the defendant keyed his ex-girlfriend's car not by accident but out of pure spite, and the court treats the act as malicious destruction rather than careless damage.
• A landlord who evicts a tenant solely to punish her for calling the health inspector is found to have acted with malice.
• A former business partner who spreads lies about his colleague to ruin her reputation acts from a corrupt motive, and the court awards punitive damages for malice.