Full Idea
An ancient principle of Roman law states, nullum crimen et nulla poene sine lege, - there is no crime and no punishment without a law.
Gist of Idea
No crime and no punishment without a law
Source
[Roman law] (Roman Law [c.100]), quoted by A.C. Grayling - Among the Dead Cities Ch.6
Book Reference
Grayling,A.C.: 'Among the Dead Cities' [Bloomsbury 2006], p.245
A Reaction
That there is no 'punishment' without law seems the basis of civilization. Suppose a strong person imposed firm punishment in order to forestall more brutal revenge by others? What motivates the creation of criminal laws?