--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What clever man has ever needed to commit…" description: "\"What clever man has ever needed to commit a crime? Crime is the last resort of political half-wits.\" — Charles Maurice de Talleyrand" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand_clever_what-clever-man-has-ever-needed-to-commi_1199224.jpg" --- # What clever man has ever needed to commit a crime? Crime… ![“What clever man has ever needed to commit a crime? Crime is the last resort of political half-wits.” quote by Charles Maurice de Talleyrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand_clever_what-clever-man-has-ever-needed-to-commi_1199224.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand_clever_what-clever-man-has-ever-needed-to-commi_1199224.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand_clever_what-clever-man-has-ever-needed-to-commi_1199224.jpg) > “What clever man has ever needed to commit a crime? Crime is the last resort of political half-wits.” [Charles Maurice de Talleyrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Only those lacking intellect resort to crime; intelligent people use other means to achieve goals. **In simple terms:** Crime is a last resort for the foolish. Key Takeaway Choose lawful solutions. Themes politics ethics intelligence Mood critical analytical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political negotiation - business competition - legal disputes - social activism Key Concepts rational choice policy strategic thinking Questions to Reflect On - When is illegal action justified? - Can political constraints force unethical choices? A Different Perspective Complex problems sometimes leave no clear lawful path. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clever/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Last resort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/last-resort/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) ## Related quotes > [A man must commit a crime at least once in his life-time. 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Commit a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-no-den-in-the-wide-world-to-hide-a-rogue-commit-a-crime-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we commit any crime, or do any good here, it must be in thought; for our words are few and our deeds none…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/if-we-commit-any-crime-or-do-any-good-here-it-must-be-in-thought-for/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [If you commit a crime, you maybe have to be haunted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/if-you-commit-a-crime-you-maybe-have-to-be-haunted/) [Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/) > [Many commit the same crime with a very different result. One bears a cross for his crime; another a crown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/many-commit-the-same-crime-with-a-very-different-result-one-bears-a/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [You cannot fashion a wit out of two half-wits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-kinnock/you-cannot-fashion-a-wit-out-of-two-half-wits/) [Neil Kinnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-kinnock/) > [“Self-pity was for children and half-wits.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/self-pity-was-for-children-and-half-wits/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [Half-wits talk much, but say little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/half-wits-talk-much-but-say-little/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [(R)eality TV (is) a medium dedicated to the proposition that with the help of judicious editing, carefully chosen half-wits can hold the attention of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-teachout/r-eality-tv-is-a-medium-dedicated-to-the-proposition-that-with-the/) [Terry Teachout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-teachout/) > [Let those find fault whose wit's so very small, They've need to show that they can think at all; Errors, like straws, upon the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/let-those-find-fault-whose-wit-s-so-very-small-they-ve-need-to-show/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Two negatives don't make a positive, any more than two half-wits make a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-kinnock/two-negatives-don-t-make-a-positive-any-more-than-two-half-wits-make/) [Neil Kinnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-kinnock/) > [To succeed in the world, it is much more necessary to possess the penetration to discern who is a fool, than to discover who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/to-succeed-in-the-world-it-is-much-more-necessary-to-possess-the/) [Charles Maurice de Talleyrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/) > [Once I've done a crime, I just forget it. I go from crime to crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-lee-lucas/once-i-ve-done-a-crime-i-just-forget-it-i-go-from-crime-to-crime/) Henry Lee Lucas > [A crime is a crime, regardless of what collar you wear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-ventura/a-crime-is-a-crime-regardless-of-what-collar-you-wear/) [Jesse Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-ventura/) > [A crime which is the crime of many none avenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucan/a-crime-which-is-the-crime-of-many-none-avenge/) [Lucan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucan/) ## More by Charles Maurice de Talleyrand > [What I have been taught, I have forgotten; what I know, I have guessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/what-i-have-been-taught-i-have-forgotten-what-i-know-i-have-guessed/) [Charles Maurice de Talleyrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/) > [Black as the devil, hot as hell, pure as an angel, sweet as love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/black-as-the-devil-hot-as-hell-pure-as-an-angel-sweet-as-love/) [Charles Maurice de Talleyrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/) > [It is not an event; it is a piece of news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/it-is-not-an-event-it-is-a-piece-of-news/) [Charles Maurice de Talleyrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/) > [Without freedom of the press, there can be no representative government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/without-freedom-of-the-press-there-can-be-no-representative-government/) [Charles Maurice de Talleyrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/) > [God gave humans language so they could conceal their thoughts from one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/god-gave-humans-language-so-they-could-conceal-their-thoughts-from/) [Charles Maurice de Talleyrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/) > [Those who have not lived in the eighteenth century, in the years before the Revolution do not know the sweetness of living and cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/those-who-have-not-lived-in-the-eighteenth-century-in-the-years/) [Charles Maurice de Talleyrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/) > [Beauty, devoid of grace, is a mere hook without the bait.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/beauty-devoid-of-grace-is-a-mere-hook-without-the-bait/) [Charles Maurice de Talleyrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/) > [If we go on explaining we shall cease to understand one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/if-we-go-on-explaining-we-shall-cease-to-understand-one-another/) [Charles Maurice de Talleyrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/) > [An important art of politicians is to find new names for institutions which under old names have become odious to the public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/an-important-art-of-politicians-is-to-find-new-names-for-institutions/) [Charles Maurice de Talleyrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/) > [She is such a good friend that she would throw all her acquaintances into the water for the pleasure of fishing them out again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/she-is-such-a-good-friend-that-she-would-throw-all-her-acquaintances/) [Charles Maurice de Talleyrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/) > [I found there a country with thirty-two religions and only one sauce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/i-found-there-a-country-with-thirty-two-religions-and-only-one-sauce/) [Charles Maurice de Talleyrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/) > [War is much too serious a thing to be left to military men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/war-is-much-too-serious-a-thing-to-be-left-to-military-men/) [Charles Maurice de Talleyrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/) > [There is one person that is wiser than anybody, and that is everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/there-is-one-person-that-is-wiser-than-anybody-and-that-is-everybody/) [Charles Maurice de Talleyrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/) > [Suave molecules of Mocha stir up your blood, without causing excess heat; the organ of thought receives from it a feeling of sympathy; work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/suave-molecules-of-mocha-stir-up-your-blood-without-causing-excess/) [Charles Maurice de Talleyrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/) > [Those who did not live during the years close to 1789 do not know the pleasure of living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/those-who-did-not-live-during-the-years-close-to-1789-do-not-know-the/) [Charles Maurice de Talleyrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/) [Explore all 52 Charles Maurice de Talleyrand quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/) ## More Clever quotes > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [You're beautiful, cute, pretty, gorgeous, and fuck.. I ran out of words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/you-re-beautiful-cute-pretty-gorgeous-and-fuck-i-ran-out-of-words/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, straghtforward men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/what-we-shall-need-is-not-geniuses-or-cynics-or-misanthropes-or/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“There was once an old but clever donkey, who never liked the sting of any bee, Nor for all the Slung mud, did he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyavrat-thareja/there-was-once-an-old-but-clever-donkey-who-never-liked-the-sting-of/) [Priyavrat Thareja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyavrat-thareja/) > [ There was another reason \[she\] took her books whenever they went away. They were her home when she was somewhere strange. They were familiar… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-funke/there-was-another-reason-she-took-her-books-whenever-they-went-away/) [Cornelia Funke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-funke/) > [“The cactus thrives in the desert while the fern thrives in the wetland. The fool will try to plant them in the same flowerbox.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/the-cactus-thrives-in-the-desert-while-the-fern-thrives-in-the/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [Good people are found not changed. Recently I read a headline that said, 'We don't teach people to be nice. We simply hire nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/good-people-are-found-not-changed-recently-i-read-a-headline-that/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [If she is stupid enough to let you go, you're clever enough not to look back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-she-is-stupid-enough-to-let-you-go-you-re-clever-enough-not-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Need to go to the pharmacy, because I'm so sick!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-matthews/need-to-go-to-the-pharmacy-because-i-m-so-sick/) Tasha Matthews > [My valour is certainly going! - it is sneaking off! - I feel it oozing out as it were at the palms of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/my-valour-is-certainly-going-it-is-sneaking-off-i-feel-it-oozing-out/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > ['I Love You' fails to sum up all the memories, smiles, laughs, trials, and tribulations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/i-love-you-fails-to-sum-up-all-the-memories-smiles-laughs-trials-and/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [People may say that what I do is very clever, but it's not really at all. 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