Lawful evil

Lawful evil is the methodical, intentional, and frequently successful devotion to a cruel organized system. In 4th edition mechanics for Dungeons & Dragons lawful evil is found under the umbrella of the evil alignment.

Lawful evil characters methodically take what they want in life within the limits of their personally held beliefs. While they care about tradition, loyalty, and order they have little to no regard for the freedom, dignity or overall lives of others. They are comfortable within a hierarchy, willing to serve in an attempt to gain more power; they see the laws and power dynamics of Toril as a means of elevating those who deserve to be masterful of others who are meant to be subservient.

These people play by the rules, albeit without mercy or compassion, and only obey laws out of fear of punishment. While they wouldn't break a promise, they seldom "give their word" or put themselves on the line, unless it would clearly help them come out ahead. Many lawful evil characters have personal codes of conduct that they self-justifiably circumvent, such as not personally taking a life in cold blood, but having underlings that kill without discretion. These "rules" served their selfish, twisted view on morality.

Many lawful evil characters use society and its laws for selfish advantages, exploiting the letter of the law over its spirit whenever it best suits their interests. Yet some others commit themselves to evil with a zeal like that of a paladin dedicated to a life of good deeds. Beyond being willing to hurt others for their own ends, they take pleasure in spreading evil as an end unto itself and see doing evil as part of a duty to a higher, or perhaps more correctly, lower power.

A tyrannical ruler who drafts the rules to suit himself, a corrupt lawyer or judge who uses the law to mask his own misdeeds, and the ruthless bosses and minions of organized crime are all examples of lawful evil characters.

Lawful evil characters exploit rules and power structures for their own personal gain. Chaotic good characters eschew laws and their rigidity to commit acts of benevolence. These two alignments oppose one another.
 * Opposing alignment: