"This is his first punishment, that by the verdict of his own heart no guilty man is acquitted"

This quote by Juvenal speaks with the concept that no matter what a person does, they can not escape the judgement of their own conscience. It suggests that the very first and essential penalty for any wrong-doing is the regret and remorse that an individual feels in their own heart. This quote suggests that no matter what the external repercussions of an individual's actions may be, the internal punishment of guilt and regret is the most powerful and long lasting. It recommends that no matter how much an individual might try to justify their actions, they will never be able to fully leave the judgement of their own heart. This quote works as a pointer that even if a person is not held liable for their actions in the eyes of the law, they will still need to deal with the consequences of their own conscience.