"As somebody once said, we're not punished for our sins, we're punished by them"

This quote by Hugh Leonard suggests that our actions and options have effects that we need to face. The phrase "we're not penalized for our sins" suggests that we are not being penalized by a greater power or external force, however rather by the consequences of our own actions. This can be analyzed as a pointer to take responsibility for our options and to be conscious of the potential effects they might bring. The expression "we're penalized by them" stresses the concept that our sins have a direct influence on our lives and can lead to suffering or difficulty. In general, this quote acts as a cautionary tip to be mindful of our actions and to pursue ethical stability.