--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A murderer is less loathsome to us than a…" description: "\"A murderer is less loathsome to us than a spy. The murderer may have acted on a sudden mad impulse; he may be penitent and amend; but a spy is always a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e75/honor-de-balzac-197_bed_a-murderer-is-less-loathsome-to-us-than_2706162.png" --- # A murderer is less loathsome to us than a spy. The… ![“A murderer is less loathsome to us than a spy. The murderer may have acted on a sudden mad impulse; he may be penitent and amend; but a spy is always a spy, night and day, in bed, at table, as he walks abroad; his vileness pervades every moment of his life” quote by Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e75/honor-de-balzac-197_bed_a-murderer-is-less-loathsome-to-us-than_2706162.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e75/honor-de-balzac-197_bed_a-murderer-is-less-loathsome-to-us-than_2706162.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e75/honor-de-balzac-197_bed_a-murderer-is-less-loathsome-to-us-than_2706162.png) > “A murderer is less loathsome to us than a spy. The murderer may have acted on a sudden mad impulse; he may be penitent and amend; but a spy is always a spy, night and day, in bed, at table, as he walks abroad; his vileness pervades every moment of his life” [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A spy’s betrayal is constant, while a murderer’s act can be isolated and possibly remorseful. **In simple terms:** Spies are perpetually dangerous; murder can be a one‑off event. Key Takeaway Beware of ongoing deceit. Themes betrayal morality trust Mood cautious reflective Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - political intrigue - personal relationships - legal judgments Key Concepts ethics psychology social trust Questions to Reflect On - Can a single act of violence ever be justified? - How do we measure the harm of constant deception? A Different Perspective A spy may act for noble causes, complicating the moral picture. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bed/) [Every moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-moment/) [Impulse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impulse/) [Loathsome Spy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loathsome-spy-2772077/) [Mad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mad/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Murderer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murderer/) [Murderer Acted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murderer-acted-1779934/) [Murderer Loathsome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murderer-loathsome-2772078/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Spy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spy/) [Spy Murderer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spy-murderer-2772076/) [Tables](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tables/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Walks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walks/) ## Related quotes > [ “\[W\]hen I put Jorge in the library I did not yet know he was the murderer. 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