Cesare Beccaria

The foregoing reflections authorise me to assert, that crimes are only to be measured by the injury done to society.

It will be sufficient for my purpose, to point out the most general principles, and the most common and dangerous errors, in order to undeceive, as well those who, from a mistaken zeal for liberty, would introduce anarchy and confusion, as those who pretend to reduce society in general to the regularity of a convent.

but the studious part of mankind, for whom I write, will easily distinguish the superstructure from the foundation.