--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The greatest crimes in the world are not…" description: "\"The greatest crimes in the world are not committed by people breaking the rules but by people following the rules. It's people who follow orders that d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3a/banksy-3076_art_the-greatest-crimes-in-the-world-are-not_958083.jpg" --- # The greatest crimes in the world are not committed by… ![“The greatest crimes in the world are not committed by people breaking the rules but by people following the rules. It's people who follow orders that drop bombs and massacre villages.” quote by Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3a/banksy-3076_art_the-greatest-crimes-in-the-world-are-not_958083.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3a/banksy-3076_art_the-greatest-crimes-in-the-world-are-not_958083.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3a/banksy-3076_art_the-greatest-crimes-in-the-world-are-not_958083.jpg) > “The greatest crimes in the world are not committed by people breaking the rules but by people following the rules. It's people who follow orders that drop bombs and massacre villages.” [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Blind obedience to authority can cause massive harm, often worse than overt rebellion. **In simple terms:** Following rules can be deadly. Key Takeaway Question authority before acting. Themes authority obedience violence Mood critical defiant Type political social commentary When to use this quote - military orders - corporate policies - bureaucratic decisions Key Concepts Moral psychology social conformity Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize when a rule is unethical? - When should you refuse to follow a directive? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Bombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bombs/) [Breaking the rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaking-the-rules/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Crimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crimes/) [Following The Rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/following-the-rules/) [Graffiti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graffiti/) [Massacres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/massacres/) [Obedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obedience/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Street art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/street-art/) [Village](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/village/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“The greatest crimes in the world are not committed by people breaking the rules, but by people following the rules.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greatest-crimes-in-the-world-are-not-committed-by-people-breaking/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The greatest crimes in the world are not committed by people breaking the rules. It's people who follow orders that drop bombs and massacre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/the-greatest-crimes-in-the-world-are-not-committed-by-people-breaking-3/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [“The greatest crimes in the world are not committed against the body, but against the freedom of the consciousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-greatest-crimes-in-the-world-are-not-committed-against-the-body/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [A wall is a very big weapon. It's one of the nastiest things you can hit someone with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/a-wall-is-a-very-big-weapon-it-s-one-of-the-nastiest-things-you-can/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Become good at cheating and you never need to become good at anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/become-good-at-cheating-and-you-never-need-to-become-good-at-anything/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Think outside the box, collapse the box, and take a f\*\*king sharp knife to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/think-outside-the-box-collapse-the-box-and-take-a-f-king-sharp-knife/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Nothing in the world is more common than unsuccessful people with talent, leave the house before you find something worth staying in for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/nothing-in-the-world-is-more-common-than-unsuccessful-people-with/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [I don't know if street art ever really works indoors. If you domesticate an animal, it goes from being wild and free to sterile,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/i-don-t-know-if-street-art-ever-really-works-indoors-if-you/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [I know street art can feel increasingly like the marketing wing of an art career, so I wanted to make some art without the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/i-know-street-art-can-feel-increasingly-like-the-marketing-wing-of-an/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [“Your mind is working at its best when you're being paranoid. You explore every avenue and possibility of your situation at high speed with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/your-mind-is-working-at-its-best-when-you-re-being-paranoid-you/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Some people become cops because they want to make the world a better place. Some people become vandals because they want to make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/some-people-become-cops-because-they-want-to-make-the-world-a-better/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Graffiti is one of the few tools you have if you have almost nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/graffiti-is-one-of-the-few-tools-you-have-if-you-have-almost-nothing/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [People say graffiti is ugly, irresponsible and childish... but that's only if it's done properly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/people-say-graffiti-is-ugly-irresponsible-and-childish-but-that-s/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [If you want to say something and have people listen then you have to wear a mask. If you want to be honest then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/if-you-want-to-say-something-and-have-people-listen-then-you-have-to/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [I need someone to protect me from all the measures they take in order to protect me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/i-need-someone-to-protect-me-from-all-the-measures-they-take-in-order/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) ## More by Banksy > [A wall is a very big weapon. It's one of the nastiest things you can hit someone with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/a-wall-is-a-very-big-weapon-it-s-one-of-the-nastiest-things-you-can/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Some people criticize me for using sources that are a bit low brow (this quote is from 'Gladiator') but you know what? 'I'm just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/some-people-criticize-me-for-using-sources-that-are-a-bit-low-brow/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [There's nothing more dangerous than someone who wants to make the world a better place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/there-s-nothing-more-dangerous-than-someone-who-wants-to-make-the/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [The grumpier you are, the more assholes you meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/the-grumpier-you-are-the-more-assholes-you-meet/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Today's art has been cancelled due to police activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/today-s-art-has-been-cancelled-due-to-police-activity/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Graffiti ultimately wins out over proper art because it becomes part of your city, it' s a tool; "I'll meet you in that pub,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/graffiti-ultimately-wins-out-over-proper-art-because-it-becomes-part/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [The bad artists imitate, the great artists steal,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/the-bad-artists-imitate-the-great-artists-steal/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Graffiti's always been a temporary art form. You make your mark and then they scrub it off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/graffiti-s-always-been-a-temporary-art-form-you-make-your-mark-and/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [I just wanna make the world a better-looking place. If you don't like it, you can paint over it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/i-just-wanna-make-the-world-a-better-looking-place-if-you-don-t-like/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [When he time comes to leave, just walk away quietly and don't make any fuss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/when-he-time-comes-to-leave-just-walk-away-quietly-and-don-t-make-any/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [If at first you don't succeed, Call an airstrike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-call-an-airstrike/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Painting something that defies the law of the land is good. Painting something that defies the law of the land and the law of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/painting-something-that-defies-the-law-of-the-land-is-good-painting/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [“Think outside the box, collapse the box, and take a fucking sharp knife to it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/think-outside-the-box-collapse-the-box-and-take-a-fucking-sharp-knife/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [We can't do anything to change the world until capitalism crumbles. In the meantime we should all go shopping to console ourselves,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/we-can-t-do-anything-to-change-the-world-until-capitalism-crumbles-in/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [If you want to say something and have people listen then you have to wear a mask. If you want to be honest then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/if-you-want-to-say-something-and-have-people-listen-then-you-have-to/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) [Explore all 140 Banksy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The greatest crimes in the world are not committed by people breaking the rules but by people following the rules. 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