A great empire and little minds go ill together.
Edmund BurkeRead
Crimes lead into one another. They who are capable of being forgers, are capable of being incendiaries.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that engaging in one type of crime can lead to the willingness to commit further, potentially more serious, offenses.
Edmund Burke's quote implies a deep connection between different forms of wrongdoing, suggesting that those who commit lesser crimes, like forgery, may also be predisposed to more severe acts, such as arson. It speaks to the moral decay and the slippery slope of criminal behavior, indicating that once a person crosses a certain threshold of unethical behavior, they may find it easier to rationalize further violations of the law.
Themes
CrimeForgeryMoralityCriminalityConsequences
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about ethics and personal responsibility, this quote can emphasize the importance of maintaining integrity.
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Society can overlook murder, adultery or swindling; it never forgives preaching of a new gospel.
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The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
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