A fine does not impose a loss of reputation or character.

Explanation

(English-origin maxim.) A monetary fine, unlike imprisonment or corporal punishment, does not affect a man's character or reputation — it is a penalty upon the purse, not upon the person.

Where this applies

• A businessman who pays a traffic fine does not lose his professional reputation or his standing in the community.
• A doctor fined for a minor regulatory violation does not have that fine treated as a mark against her medical license or character.
• A citizen who pays a fine for an overdue library book suffers only a financial penalty — no one questions his honesty or integrity over it.