Civilized Quote by Geoffrey Fisher
“In a civilized society, all crimes are likely to be sins, but most sins are not and ought not to be treated as crimes. Man's ultimate responsibility is to God alone.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Sermon on Moral Responsibility, 1965
Not all immoral acts merit legal punishment; ultimate moral accountability lies with a higher power.
In simple terms: Not every sin is a crime.
Key Takeaway
Distinguish moral and legal duties.
Themes
ethics
law
responsibility
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
ethical
theological
When to use this quote
- judicial reform
- personal ethics
- community standards
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
theology
Questions to Reflect On
- What actions should be criminalized?
- How do personal beliefs influence law?
A Different Perspective
Legal systems may struggle to separate sin from crime.
![“That country [Carthage] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws; and every step of intestine discord was marked by some deplorable victory of savage man over civilized society.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70c/edward-gibbon-710_barbarism_that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinkin_393.jpg)
