Crime Quote by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
““It is different with the upper classes. They, following science, want to base justice on reason alone, but not with Christ, as before, and they have already proclaimed that there is no crime, that there is no sin. And that's consistent, for if you have no God what is the meaning of crime?””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Crime and Punishment, 1866
Upper‑class rationalism rejects moral foundations, questioning the purpose of law without belief.
In simple terms: Justice without faith?
Key Takeaway
Consider moral underpinnings of law.
Themes
ethics
philosophy
law
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- legal systems
- policy debates
- education
- personal belief
Key Concepts
secularism
moral relativism
Questions to Reflect On
- What grounds moral law without religion?
- Can reason alone sustain justice?
A Different Perspective
Belief systems can still guide law through secular ethics.
![“if [God] doesn't exist, man is the chief of the earth, of the universe. Magnificent! Only how is he going to be good without God?” quote by Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/09b/fyodor-dostoyevsky-94_ethics_if-god-doesn-t-exist-man-is-the-chief-of_16023.jpg)
