---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If pimps and thieves everywhere were…"
description: "\"If pimps and thieves everywhere were always punished, honest people would all believe themselves always to be innocent.\" — Albert Camus"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/albert-camus-47_believe_if-pimps-and-thieves-everywhere-were-alw_1789293.jpg"
---

#  If pimps and thieves everywhere were always punished…

![“If pimps and thieves everywhere were always punished, honest people would all believe themselves always to be innocent.” quote by Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/albert-camus-47_believe_if-pimps-and-thieves-everywhere-were-alw_1789293.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/albert-camus-47_believe_if-pimps-and-thieves-everywhere-were-alw_1789293.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/albert-camus-47_believe_if-pimps-and-thieves-everywhere-were-alw_1789293.jpg)

> “If pimps and thieves everywhere were always punished, honest people would all believe themselves always to be innocent.”

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

## About This Quote

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

If punishment were universal, people would think themselves innocent, ignoring personal responsibility.

**In simple terms:** Universal punishment leads to false innocence.

Key Takeaway

Recognize personal responsibility.

Themes

justice innocence responsibility

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

- law enforcement
- personal ethics
- social policy

Key Concepts

philosophy existentialism

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you hold yourself accountable?
- What role does empathy play?

A Different Perspective

Punishment alone doesn't ensure morality.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Honest people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-people/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pimps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pimps/) [Thieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thieves/)

## Related quotes

> [“If pimps and thieves were invariably sentenced, all decent people would get to thinking they themselves were constantly innocent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/if-pimps-and-thieves-were-invariably-sentenced-all-decent-people/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [“If pimps and thieves were invariably sen­tenced, all decent people would get to thinking they themselves were constantly innocent, cher mon­sieur. And in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-pimps-and-thieves-were-invariably-sen-tenced-all-decent-people/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Golf is a game where white men can dress up as black pimps and get away with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/golf-is-a-game-where-white-men-can-dress-up-as-black-pimps-and-get/)

[Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/)

> [As far as women who are being abused by pimps, I think if you see women who do incalls or outcalls rather than work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-brown/as-far-as-women-who-are-being-abused-by-pimps-i-think-if-you-see/)

[Chester Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-brown/)

> [Man hardly comes in more than two varieties, wherever he is, whatever he does: workers and pimps ... they're either one or the other!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/man-hardly-comes-in-more-than-two-varieties-wherever-he-is-whatever/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [The real power in America is held by a fast-emerging new Oligarchy of pimps and preachers who see no need for Democracy or fairness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/the-real-power-in-america-is-held-by-a-fast-emerging-new-oligarchy-of-2/)

[Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/)

> [Back in the day they had the prophecy that one day there would be a pimp of all pimps &amp; his name would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-situation/back-in-the-day-they-had-the-prophecy-that-one-day-there-would-be-a/)

[The Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-situation/)

> [I didn't mind working in the clubs, but I resented it being a club where pimps hang out. Because the music that I create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-white/i-didn-t-mind-working-in-the-clubs-but-i-resented-it-being-a-club/)

[Barry White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-white/)

> [Little by little, the pimps have taken over the world. They don't do anything, they don't make anything - they just stand there and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-giraudoux/little-by-little-the-pimps-have-taken-over-the-world-they-don-t-do/)

[Jean Giraudoux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-giraudoux/)

> [There are no pimps, no whores, no transvestites - gone. Now that's more the culture I'm comfortable in ... I don't like it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-pop/there-are-no-pimps-no-whores-no-transvestites-gone-now-that-s-more/)

[Iggy Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-pop/)

> [All fighters are prostitutes and all promoters are pimps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/all-fighters-are-prostitutes-and-all-promoters-are-pimps/)

[Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/)

> [Every age, race, socio-economic background of men are 'johns.' It's a little more complicated who's doing the selling. The truth is that the average…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-lloyd/every-age-race-socio-economic-background-of-men-are-johns-it-s-a/)

[Rachel Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-lloyd/)

> [Everyone has favorite criminals. Mine are pimps. We can all rob a bank; we can all sell drugs. Being a pimp is a whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rock/everyone-has-favorite-criminals-mine-are-pimps-we-can-all-rob-a-bank/)

[Chris Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rock/)

> [That's ended, that's over. I want you to meet my pimps. I thought, I'm a show-business ho already, so I might as well be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/that-s-ended-that-s-over-i-want-you-to-meet-my-pimps-i-thought-i-m-a/)

[Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/)

> [I believe we are still so innocent. The species are still so innocent that a person who is apt to be murdered believes that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-believe-we-are-still-so-innocent-the-species-are-still-so-innocent/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

## More by Albert Camus

> [“The whole town rushed outside to celebrate this crowded minute when the time of suffering had ended and the time of forgetting had not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-whole-town-rushed-outside-to-celebrate-this-crowded-minute-when/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [Generally, I like all islands. There, it is easier to rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/generally-i-like-all-islands-there-it-is-easier-to-rule/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [Being is good, but getting rich is better… If the gods had only the riches of men's adoration, they would be as poor as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/being-is-good-but-getting-rich-is-better-if-the-gods-had-only-the/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [The more I produce, the less I am certain. On the road along which the artist walks, night falls ever more densely. Finally, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-more-i-produce-the-less-i-am-certain-on-the-road-along-which-the/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [“Having been, not only mutilated in our country, wounded in our very flesh, but also divested of our most beautiful images, for you gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/having-been-not-only-mutilated-in-our-country-wounded-in-our-very/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [I've seen of enough of people who die for an idea. I don't believe in heroism; I know it's easy and I've learned it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-ve-seen-of-enough-of-people-who-die-for-an-idea-i-don-t-believe-in/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [The best are led to make greater demands upon themselves. As for those who succumb, they did not deserve to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-best-are-led-to-make-greater-demands-upon-themselves-as-for-those/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [“Then he asked me if I wasn’t interested in a change of life. I said that people never change their lives, that in any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/then-he-asked-me-if-i-wasn-t-interested-in-a-change-of-life-i-said/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [Life is meaningless, but worth living, provided you recognize it's meaningless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/life-is-meaningless-but-worth-living-provided-you-recognize-it-s/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [Thinking of the future, establishing aims for oneself, having preferences-all this presupposes a belief in freedom, even if one occasionally ascertains that one doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/thinking-of-the-future-establishing-aims-for-oneself-having/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [I explained to him, however, that my nature was such that my physical needs often got in the way of my feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-explained-to-him-however-that-my-nature-was-such-that-my-physical/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-only-way-to-deal-with-an-unfree-world-is-to-become-so-absolutely/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [“We love people not because for good they did for us, but for good we did for them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/we-love-people-not-because-for-good-they-did-for-us-but-for-good-we/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [You have so much inside you, and the noblest happiness of all. Don’t just wait for a man to come along. That’s the mistake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/you-have-so-much-inside-you-and-the-noblest-happiness-of-all-don-t/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [The desire for possession is insatiable, to such a point that it can survive even love itself. To love, therefore, is to sterilize the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-desire-for-possession-is-insatiable-to-such-a-point-that-it-can/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

[Explore all 1,600 Albert Camus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

## More Believe quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/)

[Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/)

[Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/)

> [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

> [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/)

[Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/)

> [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/)

[James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/)

> [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/)

[Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/)

Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If pimps and thieves everywhere were always punished, honest people would all believe themselves always to be innocent.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Albert Camus"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/if-pimps-and-thieves-everywhere-were-always-punished-honest-people/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Believe"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/if-pimps-and-thieves-everywhere-were-always-punished-honest-people/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/albert-camus-47_believe_if-pimps-and-thieves-everywhere-were-alw_1789293.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/albert-camus-47_believe_if-pimps-and-thieves-everywhere-were-alw_1789293.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/albert-camus-47_believe_if-pimps-and-thieves-everywhere-were-alw_1789293.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If pimps and thieves everywhere were always punished, honest people would all believe themselves always to…” — Albert Camus",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Albert Camus",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If pimps and thieves everywhere were...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/if-pimps-and-thieves-everywhere-were-always-punished-honest-people/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/if-pimps-and-thieves-everywhere-were-always-punished-honest-people/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
