"That is, just as a wise man has a
sovereign right to do all things that reason dictates, i.e., he has the right
of living by the laws of reason, so also the ignorant or intemperate person
possesses the sovereign right to do everything that desire suggests, i.e.,
he has the right of living by the laws of appetite. This is precisely what Paul
is saying when he acknowledges that there is no sin before law is established,
i.e., as long as men are considered as living under the government
of nature. Each person’s natural right therefore is determined not by sound
reason but by desire and power. For it is not the case that all men are
naturally determined to behave according to the rules and laws of reason.
On the contrary, all men are born completely ignorant of everything and
before they can learn the true rationale of living and acquire the habit of
virtue, a good part of life has elapsed even if they have been well brought
up, while, in the meantime, they must live and conserve themselves so far
as they can, by the sole impulse of appetite. For nature has given them
nothing else, and has denied them the power of living on the basis of
sound reason, and consequently they are no more obliged to live by the
laws of a sound mind than a cat is by the laws of a lion’s nature. " -Baruch Spinoza

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