It is necessary for him who lays out a state and arranges laws for it to presuppose that all men are evil and that they are always going to act according to the wickedness of their spirits whenever they have free scope

For as laws are necessary that good manners be preserved, so there is need of good manners that law may be maintained

Because just as good morals, if they are to be maintained, have need of the laws, so the laws, if they are to be observed, have need of good morals

In truth, there never was any remarkable lawgiver amongst any people who did not resort to divine authority, as otherwise his laws would not have been accepted by the people; for there are many good laws, the importance of which is known to be the sa

Law never made men a whit more just.

Men would be great criminals did they need as many laws as they break