Where there is no free agency, there can be no morality. Where there is no temptation, there can be little claim to virtue. Where the routine is rigorously proscribed by law, the law, and not the man, must have the credit of the conduct.
Interpretation
Morality and virtue require the ability to make choices; without free will, one cannot truly claim moral character.
This quote emphasizes the importance of free agency in defining morality and virtue. It suggests that true moral actions arise from the ability to make choices, and when individuals are restricted by laws or routines, their moral credit is diminished because they are not exercising personal agency. Prescott argues that without the challenge of temptation and the freedom to choose between good and bad, claims to virtue become hollow.
In practice
In a discussion about ethics, one might quote Prescott to highlight the role of choice in moral decision-making.
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