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There are moments when people love crime," Alyosha said…

“There are moments when people love crime," Alyosha said pensively. "Yes, yes! You've spoken my own thought, they love it, they all love it, and love it always, not just at 'moments.' You know, it's as if at some point they all agreed to lie about it, and have been lying about it ever since. They…” quote by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
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““There are moments when people love crime," Alyosha said pensively. "Yes, yes! You've spoken my own thought, they love it, they all love it, and love it always, not just at 'moments.' You know, it's as if at some point they all agreed to lie about it, and have been lying about it ever since. They all say they hate what's bad, but secretly they all love it.””

Fyodor Dostoyevsky

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

People often claim to despise wrongdoing, yet they secretly enjoy it, revealing a paradox of moral self‑deception.

In simple terms: Many claim to hate crime but secretly love it.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and confront hidden attractions to wrongdoing.

Themes

morality selfdeception human nature

Mood

conflicted introspective

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • social interactions
  • media consumption
  • legal enforcement
  • personal reflection

Key Concepts

psychology cognitive dissonance ethical paradox

Questions to Reflect On

  • Why do we hide our true feelings about wrongdoing?
  • How can we align our actions with our stated morals?
A Different Perspective

People may rationalize or justify harmful behavior, making change difficult.

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