Skip to content

And, in fact, if these crimes appeal less to the senses…

“And, in fact, if these crimes appeal less to the senses, they appeal more to the mind; and the mind, in the last analysis, is the profoundest part of us. For the novelist, therefore, there is a new type of tragedy to be derived from these crimes, more intellectual than physical in character, which…” quote by Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly
Download Open image
““And, in fact, if these crimes appeal less to the senses, they appeal more to the mind; and the mind, in the last analysis, is the profoundest part of us. For the novelist, therefore, there is a new type of tragedy to be derived from these crimes, more intellectual than physical in character, which do not really seem to be crimes to the superficial judgement of old materialistic societies because they do not involve bloodshed, and murder is committed only in the sphere of feelings and manners.””

Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly

About This Quote

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

Some crimes affect the mind more than the body, creating intellectual tragedy without physical violence.

In simple terms: Mind‑focused tragedy.

Key Takeaway

Recognize non‑physical harm.

Themes

morality psychology tragedy

Mood

analytical thought‑provoking

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • legal analysis
  • literary critique
  • ethical debates

Key Concepts

Intellectual crime emotional impact

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do we judge non‑violent crimes?
  • Can intellectual harm be as severe as physical?
A Different Perspective

Physical evidence often dominates moral judgment.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly

Explore all 18 Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly quotes

More Crime quotes

Browse all 8,359 Crime quotes