Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this.
Jane speaks while standing on the edge of a painful decision. The phrasing is steady and almost sermonic, as if she is preaching to herself to hold the line. Repeating “laws and principles” underscores that convictions matter most under pressure, not when life is easy. The sentence reframes temptation as a test of identity, not just a moral rule-book. In context, her choice protects her sense of self even as it breaks her heart. It’s a declaration of free will exercised in alignment with conscience. The strength here is quiet, not flashy. Readers feel the cost and still admire the clarity.