Laws were made for rogues.

The saying cynically suggests that dishonest people force society to make laws, because some people cannot be trusted to act fairly without restraint.

It is a broad generalization, not a literal explanation of why every law exists. “Rogues” is dated or literary in tone and can sound judgmental when applied directly to people.

Use it as a critical, somewhat cynical comment on rules introduced after cheating, fraud, or other abuse. It suits reflective or argumentative prose more than a neutral account of law, and its dated term for offenders may sound judgmental.