"For centuries the death penalty, often accompanied by barbarous refinements, has been trying to hold crime in check; yet crime persists. Why? Because the instincts that are warring in man are not, as the law claims, constant forces in a state of equilibrium"

Albert Camus is recommending that the death penalty has actually been utilized for centuries as a way to manage criminal activity, yet crime persists. He thinks that this is because the instincts that drive human behavior are not in a state of balance, as the law claims. He is indicating that the law is insufficient to control criminal offense, as human behavior is driven by more than just the law. He is suggesting that in order to genuinely manage crime, we should look beyond the law and comprehend the underlying inspirations of human habits. He thinks that comprehending these motivations is the essential to controlling criminal activity.