Crime Quote by Henry Miller
““Crime begins with God. It will end with man, when he finds God again. Crime is everywhere, in all the fibres and roots of our being. Every minute of the day adds fresh crimes to the calendar, both those which are detected and punished, and those which are not. The criminal hunts down the criminal. The judge condemns the judger. The innocent torture the innocent. Everywhere, in every family, every tribe, every great community, crimes, crimes, crimes. War is clean by comparison. The hangman is a gentle dove by comparison. Attila, Tamerlane, Genghis Khan reckless automatons by comparison. Your father, your darling mother, your sweet sister: do you know the foul crimes they harbor in their breasts? Can you hold the mirror to iniquity when it is close at hand? Have you looked into the labyrinth of your own despicable heart? Have you sometimes envied the thug for his forthrightness? The study of crime begins with the knowledge of oneself. All that you despise, all that you loathe, all that you reject, all that you condemn and seek to convert by punishment springs from you. The source of it is God whom you place outside, above and beyond. Crime is identification, first with God, then with your own image.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Colossus of Maroussi by Henry Miller, 1941
Human wrongdoing originates from projecting inner flaws onto external forces, then recognizing that true accountability lies within oneself.
In simple terms: Crime stems from inner flaws blamed on God, but real cause is within.
Recognize and own your inner darkness.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- ethical counseling
- conflict resolution
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What inner biases drive your judgments?
- How can self-awareness reduce blaming others?
Blaming external forces can ignore systemic issues and personal agency.