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Criminals are never very amusing. It's because they're failures. Those who make real money aren't counted as criminals. This is a class distinction, not an ethical problem.
Orson Welles
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote highlights the difference between societal perceptions of crime and success, suggesting that true criminals are often deemed failures in the eyes of society.

Orson Welles points out that what society deems as criminal behavior often stems from a failure to achieve success through traditional means. He argues that those who are truly successful and wealthy are not typically labeled as criminals, indicating a societal class distinction that prioritizes financial success over ethical considerations. Thus, this perspective challenges the ethical implications of criminality, suggesting that societal values shape our understanding of success and failure.

Themes

CrimeSuccessFailureSocietyEthicsClass Distinction

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about wealth disparity, one might quote this to illustrate societal biases.

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