Bad business Quote by Dashiell Hammett
“When a man's partner is killed he's supposed to do something about it. It doesn't make any difference what you thought of him. He was your partner and you're supposed to do something about it. Then it happens we were in the detective business. Well, when one of your organization gets killed it's bad business to let the killer get away with it. It's bad all around-bad for that one organization, bad for every detective everywhere. Sam Spade”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Maltese Falcon, 1930
A detective’s duty compels action against injustice, regardless of personal feelings, emphasizing collective responsibility and the cost of inaction.
In simple terms: Detectives must act against wrongdoing despite personal ties.
Key Takeaway
Uphold justice even when personal.
Themes
justice
duty
solidarity
consequences
Mood
tense
determined
Type
ethical
dramatic
When to use this quote
- law enforcement
- corporate security
- whistleblowing
- community vigilance
Key Concepts
ethical obligation
professionalism
collective security
Questions to Reflect On
- What would you do if a close associate broke the law?
- How does personal bias affect professional duty?
A Different Perspective
Moral dilemmas can conflict with personal loyalty.
![“To swipe the immortal lines uttered by Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon, a great mystery should take "the lid off life and let [you] look at the works.” quote by Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/12a/dashiell-hammett-3863_life_to-swipe-the-immortal-lines-uttered-by-s_2634013.jpg)
