--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is a speech we've all heard before…" description: "\"“This is a speech we've all heard before. From the con artists who aren't like the burglars, who aren't like the armed robbers, who only ever broke a b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/beb/ben-aaronovitch-3199_art_this-is-a-speech-we-ve-all-heard-before_1880166.jpg" --- # This is a speech we've all heard before. From the con… ![“This is a speech we've all heard before. From the con artists who aren't like the burglars, who aren't like the armed robbers, who only ever broke a bone if the victim had it coming and the murderers who made 'one mistake' and are forced to pay for it for the rest of their lives. They want to know…” quote by Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/beb/ben-aaronovitch-3199_art_this-is-a-speech-we-ve-all-heard-before_1880166.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/beb/ben-aaronovitch-3199_art_this-is-a-speech-we-ve-all-heard-before_1880166.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/beb/ben-aaronovitch-3199_art_this-is-a-speech-we-ve-all-heard-before_1880166.jpg) > ““This is a speech we've all heard before. From the con artists who aren't like the burglars, who aren't like the armed robbers, who only ever broke a bone if the victim had it coming and the murderers who made 'one mistake' and are forced to pay for it for the rest of their lives. They want to know what you're doing about the real criminals, the rapists and the paedophiles. Who want to know why you're wasting resources on them when we should be tackling female genital mutilation or political corruption”” [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that resources are misallocated to minor offenders while serious crimes like rape and FGM are ignored, urging focus on major harms. **In simple terms:** Focus on serious crimes, not petty offenders. Key Takeaway Prioritize resources for the most harmful crimes. Themes justice policy priorities crime ethics Mood frustrated urgent critical Type political advocacy When to use this quote - government budgeting - law enforcement focus - NGO advocacy - public debate Key Concepts resource allocation moral calculus public safety Questions to Reflect On - How do we balance resource constraints with the need to address all crimes? - What criteria should guide prioritization of criminal justice resources? A Different Perspective The speaker may underestimate the complexity of legal systems and victim support needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Moral relativism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-relativism/) [Political corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-corruption/) ## Related quotes > [There's a reason survivors choose not to go to the police, and that's because they're treated as the criminals. The rapists are innocent until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-sulkowicz/there-s-a-reason-survivors-choose-not-to-go-to-the-police-and-that-s/) Emma Sulkowicz > [“Madmen, criminals, and rapists! Isn’t it fantastic? All the romantic proposals I’ve ever got from anybody. 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Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-s-greenberg/) ## More by Ben Aaronovitch > [“He was from Yorkshire, or somewhere like that, and like many Northerners with issues, he'd moved to London as a cheap alternative to psychotherapy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/he-was-from-yorkshire-or-somewhere-like-that-and-like-many/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) > [“I left in a hurry before he could change his mind, but I want to make it clear that at no point did I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/i-left-in-a-hurry-before-he-could-change-his-mind-but-i-want-to-make/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) > [The general public have a warped view of the speed at which an investigation proceeds. 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From the con artists who aren't like the burglars, who aren't like the armed robbers, who only ever broke a bone if the victim had it coming and the murderers who made 'one mistake' and are forced to pay for it for the rest of their lives. They want to know what you're doing about the real criminals, the rapists and the paedophiles. 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