On Crimes and Punishments

-ever be in contradiction with one another, but not all the consequences and duties that result from one result from the others. Not everything that Revelation requires, natural law requires; nor does everything that this requires, the pure social law require. However, it is most important to separate that which results from this convention—that is, from the express or tacit pacts of men—because such is the limit of that force which can be legitimately exercised between man and man, without a special mission from the Supreme Being. Therefore, the idea of Political Virtue can, without reproach, be called variable; that of Natural Virtue would always be clear and manifest if the imbecility or the passions of men did not obscure-