--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He came down from the North to Paris with…" description: "\"“He came down from the North to Paris with a mind like Aristotle's and a form like mortal sin. We shattered the Commandments on the spot.”\" — James Gol..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/james-goldman-34339_mortal-sin_he-came-down-from-the-north-to-paris-wit_2307409.jpg" --- # He came down from the North to Paris with a mind like… ![“He came down from the North to Paris with a mind like Aristotle's and a form like mortal sin. We shattered the Commandments on the spot.” quote by James Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/james-goldman-34339_mortal-sin_he-came-down-from-the-north-to-paris-wit_2307409.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/james-goldman-34339_mortal-sin_he-came-down-from-the-north-to-paris-wit_2307409.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/james-goldman-34339_mortal-sin_he-came-down-from-the-north-to-paris-wit_2307409.jpg) > ““He came down from the North to Paris with a mind like Aristotle's and a form like mortal sin. We shattered the Commandments on the spot.”” [James Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A brilliant mind can clash with moral failings, leading to the destruction of accepted rules. **In simple terms:** Intellect and vice together can overturn norms. Key Takeaway Balance intellect with ethical awareness. Themes power morality hubris Mood cautionary dramatic Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - political negotiations - personal ambition - ideological debates Key Concepts philosophical conflict ethical collapse Questions to Reflect On - What rules are you willing to break? - Can brilliance justify immorality? A Different Perspective Moral decay can undermine even great intellect. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mortal sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortal-sin/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [I never meant to hurt you, Isabel. 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The physics is not true.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-gass/the-world-of-conceptualized-ideas-is-quite-wonderful-even-when-it-s/) [William H. Gass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-gass/) > [“There is, at this moment, imperative need for men possessing, like Aristotle, universal knowledge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-at-this-moment-imperative-need-for-men-possessing-like/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [And when children begin to use their reason, fathers and mothers should take great pains to fill their hearts with the fear of God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/and-when-children-begin-to-use-their-reason-fathers-and-mothers/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [“After coming to faith, no one should think that sin can be taken lightly. Sin is truly sin, whether it is committed before or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/after-coming-to-faith-no-one-should-think-that-sin-can-be-taken/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [When you see a condemned man on his way to the gallows, it moves you to pity. If you could do something to free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mary-claret/when-you-see-a-condemned-man-on-his-way-to-the-gallows-it-moves-you/) [Anthony Mary Claret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mary-claret/) > [Woe to those who die in mortal sin!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-of-assisi/woe-to-those-who-die-in-mortal-sin/) [Francis of Assisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-of-assisi/) > [The cumulative weight of all mortal sins--past, present, and future--pressed upon that perfect, sinless, and sensitive Soul! All our infirmities and sicknesses were somehow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-cumulative-weight-of-all-mortal-sins-past-present-and-future/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [He would be guilty of mortal sin, because he exposes himself to the danger of grievously offending God. Hence, before he acts he must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonsus-liguori/he-would-be-guilty-of-mortal-sin-because-he-exposes-himself-to-the/) [Alphonsus Liguori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonsus-liguori/) > [Half-instructed confessors have done my soul great harm; for I could not always have such learned ones as I would have desired. They certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/half-instructed-confessors-have-done-my-soul-great-harm-for-i-could/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [The works of the righteous would be mortal sins if they would not be feared as mortal sins by the righteous themselves out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-works-of-the-righteous-would-be-mortal-sins-if-they-would-not-be/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [This I say, because God showed me somewhat of his truth, in order that I might know what man is without him; that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-of-genoa/this-i-say-because-god-showed-me-somewhat-of-his-truth-in-order-that/) [Catherine of Genoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-of-genoa/) > [“The Church has always regarded the admin istration of a Sacrament in the state of mortal sin as a sacrilege, and insists on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pohle/the-church-has-always-regarded-the-admin-istration-of-a-sacrament-in/) [Joseph Pohle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pohle/) ## More by James Goldman > [“Well, what family doesn't have its ups and downs?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldman/well-what-family-doesn-t-have-its-ups-and-downs/) [James Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldman/) > [Give me a little peace. A little? Why so modest? How about eternal peace? Now, there's a thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldman/give-me-a-little-peace-a-little-why-so-modest-how-about-eternal-peace/) [James Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldman/) > [“I've snapped and plotted all my life. There's no other way to be a king, alive and fifty all at the same time. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldman/i-ve-snapped-and-plotted-all-my-life-there-s-no-other-way-to-be-a/) [James Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldman/) > [“I've plotted and schemed all my life. There is no other way to be a King, fifty and alive all at once.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldman/i-ve-plotted-and-schemed-all-my-life-there-is-no-other-way-to-be-a/) [James Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldman/) > [“I want Poetry and Power and the young men who create it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldman/i-want-poetry-and-power-and-the-young-men-who-create-it/) [James Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldman/) > [“Of course he has a knife, he always has a knife, we all have knives! It's 1183 and we're barbarians!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldman/of-course-he-has-a-knife-he-always-has-a-knife-we-all-have-knives-it/) [James Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldman/) > [“I've given up the looking glass; quicksilver has no sense of tact.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldman/i-ve-given-up-the-looking-glass-quicksilver-has-no-sense-of-tact/) [James Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldman/) > [“You never loved anyone who loved you back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldman/you-never-loved-anyone-who-loved-you-back/) [James Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldman/) > [“John: "Poor John. Who says poor John? Don't everybody sob at once! My God, if I went up in flames there's not a living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldman/john-poor-john-who-says-poor-john-don-t-everybody-sob-at-once-my-god/) [James Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldman/) > [“I even made poor Louis take me on Crusade. How's that for blasphemy? I dressed my maids as Amazons and rode bare-breasted halfway to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldman/i-even-made-poor-louis-take-me-on-crusade-how-s-that-for-blasphemy-i/) [James Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldman/) > [“Geoffrey: Why, you chivalric fool—as if the way one fell down mattered. Richard: When the fall is all there is, it matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldman/geoffrey-why-you-chivalric-fool-as-if-the-way-one-fell-down-mattered/) [James Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldman/) > [Nothing in life has any business being perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldman/nothing-in-life-has-any-business-being-perfect/) [James Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldman/) > [I know. You know I know. I know you know I know. We know Henry knows and Henry knows we know it. We're a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldman/i-know-you-know-i-know-i-know-you-know-i-know-we-know-henry-knows-and/) [James Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldman/) [Explore all 14 James Goldman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldman/) ## More Mortal sin quotes > [“The Church has always regarded the admin istration of a Sacrament in the state of mortal sin as a sacrilege, and insists on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pohle/the-church-has-always-regarded-the-admin-istration-of-a-sacrament-in/) [Joseph Pohle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pohle/) > [This I say, because God showed me somewhat of his truth, in order that I might know what man is without him; that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-of-genoa/this-i-say-because-god-showed-me-somewhat-of-his-truth-in-order-that/) [Catherine of Genoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-of-genoa/) > [The works of the righteous would be mortal sins if they would not be feared as mortal sins by the righteous themselves out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-works-of-the-righteous-would-be-mortal-sins-if-they-would-not-be/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Half-instructed confessors have done my soul great harm; for I could not always have such learned ones as I would have desired. They certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/half-instructed-confessors-have-done-my-soul-great-harm-for-i-could/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [He would be guilty of mortal sin, because he exposes himself to the danger of grievously offending God. Hence, before he acts he must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonsus-liguori/he-would-be-guilty-of-mortal-sin-because-he-exposes-himself-to-the/) [Alphonsus Liguori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonsus-liguori/) > [The cumulative weight of all mortal sins--past, present, and future--pressed upon that perfect, sinless, and sensitive Soul! All our infirmities and sicknesses were somehow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-cumulative-weight-of-all-mortal-sins-past-present-and-future/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Woe to those who die in mortal sin!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-of-assisi/woe-to-those-who-die-in-mortal-sin/) [Francis of Assisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-of-assisi/) > [When you see a condemned man on his way to the gallows, it moves you to pity. If you could do something to free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mary-claret/when-you-see-a-condemned-man-on-his-way-to-the-gallows-it-moves-you/) [Anthony Mary Claret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mary-claret/) > [“After coming to faith, no one should think that sin can be taken lightly. Sin is truly sin, whether it is committed before or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/after-coming-to-faith-no-one-should-think-that-sin-can-be-taken/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [And when children begin to use their reason, fathers and mothers should take great pains to fill their hearts with the fear of God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/and-when-children-begin-to-use-their-reason-fathers-and-mothers/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [Using adverbs is a mortal sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/using-adverbs-is-a-mortal-sin/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [I regard as a mortal sin not only the lying of the senses in matters of love, but also the illusion which the senses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sand/i-regard-as-a-mortal-sin-not-only-the-lying-of-the-senses-in-matters/) [George Sand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sand/) > [Charity is not a potency of the soul, because if it were it would be natural. Nor is it a passion, because it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/charity-is-not-a-potency-of-the-soul-because-if-it-were-it-would-be/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [Such sins, even if they do not kill all grace in us, do harm, nevertheless; and though they are only venial in themselves, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-tauler/such-sins-even-if-they-do-not-kill-all-grace-in-us-do-harm/) [Johannes Tauler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-tauler/) > [I'm not worried about mortal sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-morrison/i-m-not-worried-about-mortal-sin/) [Matthew Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-morrison/) [Browse all 65 Mortal sin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortal-sin/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He came down from the North to Paris with a mind like Aristotle's and a form like mortal sin. 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