---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most men only commit great crimes because…"
description: "\"Most men only commit great crimes because of their scruples about petty ones.\" — Jean Francois Paul de Gondi"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c32/jean-francois-paul-de-gondi-24_commit_most-men-only-commit-great-crimes-becaus_322254.png"
---

#  Most men only commit great crimes because of their…

![“Most men only commit great crimes because of their scruples about petty ones.” quote by Jean Francois Paul de Gondi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c32/jean-francois-paul-de-gondi-24_commit_most-men-only-commit-great-crimes-becaus_322254.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c32/jean-francois-paul-de-gondi-24_commit_most-men-only-commit-great-crimes-becaus_322254.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c32/jean-francois-paul-de-gondi-24_commit_most-men-only-commit-great-crimes-becaus_322254.png)

> “Most men only commit great crimes because of their scruples about petty ones.”

[Jean Francois Paul de Gondi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-francois-paul-de-gondi/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

People often justify major wrongdoing by focusing on minor moral lapses.

**In simple terms:** Minor scruples can mask larger crimes.

Key Takeaway

Examine true motives behind actions.

Themes

morality justification crime

Mood

reflective critical

Type

analytical philosophical

When to use this quote

- political power
- corporate fraud
- personal betrayal

Key Concepts

cognitive dissonance ethical rationalization

Questions to Reflect On

- What minor rule do you use to excuse larger misdeeds?
- How can we recognize when small scruples are a cover?

A Different Perspective

Large crimes may stem from deeper systemic issues, not just petty concerns.

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[Commit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commit/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Crimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crimes/) [Crimes Scruples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crimes-scruples-3033511/) [Great Crimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-crimes-1766428/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/petty/) [Scruples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scruples/) [Scruples Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scruples-petty-3033512/)

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