[self-defense Is] Justly Called The Primary Law

There Is Nothing Which So Generally Strikes The Imagination, And Engages The Affections Of Mankind, As The Right Of Property; Or That Sole And Despotic Dominion Which One Man Claims And Exercises Over The External Things Of The World, In Total Exclusion Of The Right Of Any Other Individual In The Universe. And Yet There Are Very Few, That Will Give Themselves The Trouble To Consider The Original And Foundation Of This Right.

Mankind Will Not Be Reasoned Out Of The Feelings Of Humanity.

Law Is The Embodiment Of The Moral Sentiment Of The People.

Punishments Of Unreasonable Severity, Especially Where Indiscriminately Afflicted, Have Less Effect In Preventing Crimes, And Amending The Manners Of A People, Than Such As Are More Merciful In General, Yet Properly Intermixed With Due Distinctions Of Severity.

So Great Moreover Is The Regard Of The Law For Private Property, That It Will Not Authorize The Least Violation Of It; No, Not Even For The General Good Of The Whole Community.