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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.
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
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about wealth disparity, one might quote this to illustrate societal biases.
More from Orson Welles
All quotes βWhen people accept breaking the law as normal, something happens to the whole society.
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