“Our repentance is not so much regret for the ill we have done as fear of the ill that may happen to us in consequence.”

Unless we posess those most rare qualities. Sincerity and wisdom

Okay, there's one perspective.

In every sphere, right motivation makes the defining difference.

Rightly motivated repentance is redemptive in character.

Wrongly motivated repentance is a pragmatic exercise.

That's not really repentance, is it?  That's just trying to get out of trouble.