Or, again, suppose a virtuous man to fall into a society of ruffians on the road to swift destruction; his sense of justice would be of no avail, and consequently he would arm himself with the first weapon he could seize, consulting self-preservation alone.

The ordinary punishment of criminals is, as regards them, a suspension of justice for the benefit of society.

A state of war is the remission of justice between the parties as of no use or application.

A civilized nation at war with barbarians must discard even the small relics of justice retained in war with other civilized nations.

Thus the rules of equity and justice depend on the condition that men are placed in, and are limited by their UTILITY in each separate state of things.