Bootlegging Quote by Al Capone
“Some call it bootlegging. Some call it racketeering. I call it a business.”
About This Quote
Source Film: Public Enemies, 2009
He frames illegal profit as legitimate enterprise, normalizing crime as business.
In simple terms: Crime is presented as a business.
Key Takeaway
Question the moral framing of illicit activities.
Themes
crime
business
ethics
power
perception
Mood
cynical
critical
Type
controversial
analytical
When to use this quote
- organized crime
- entrepreneurship
- policy making
- public perception
- legal reform
Key Concepts
capitalism
legitimacy
corruption
Questions to Reflect On
- How does labeling crime as business affect public response?
- What safeguards can prevent illegal enterprises from gaining legitimacy?
A Different Perspective
Legitimizing crime can erode societal norms and enable abuse.
![“That song [You Got To Make It Through The World] came from a vibe I picked up from an old blues singer named Bo Carter. My lady was making a film as a thesis for U.C.L.A. and she wanted me to write a song to depict this character. The movie had something to do with bootlegging and stuff like that…” quote by Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f99/van-morrison-1192_bootlegging_that-song-you-got-to-make-it-through-the_1193292.jpg)
