修西得底斯（Thucydides）在讲述雅典人讨论该对叛乱的密提林人（Mytilenians）施以何种惩罚的故事时，指出“很多犯罪行为的法定判决都是死刑，但人们却仍然大着胆子甘愿冒险，也就是说一旦认准了某个特定的方向，法律的威严或者其他形式的恫吓都不可能阻止人们去犯罪行凶。
Thucydides, in recounting the Athenians’ discussion of what penalty to impose on the rebellious Mytilenians, noted that “the death penalty has been laid down for many offenses, yet people still take risks when they feel sufficiently confident; it is impossible for human nature, once seriously set upon a certain course, to be prevented from following that course by the force of law or by any other means of intimidation whatsoever.”