Quid leges sine moribus vanae proficiunt

“Quid leges sine moribus vanae proficiunt” is a Latin phrase that is credited to Horace, a Roman poet and philosopher. When translated to English, it means “What do laws profit us if they are not supported by morals?” Essentially, this phrase stresses the significance of ethics and morality in society, in conjunction with the presence of laws. It implies that laws on their own, without a foundation in moral principles, are ineffective or meaningless. To put it simply, it highlights the notion that for a society to function correctly, there must be not just legal regulations, but also a collective commitment to ethical values.