--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Great crimes come never singly; they are…" description: "\"Great crimes come never singly; they are linked To sins that went before.\" — Jean Racine" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/205/jean-racine-4047_crime_great-crimes-come-never-singly-they-are_1276024.jpg" --- # Great crimes come never singly; they are linked To sins… ![“Great crimes come never singly; they are linked To sins that went before.” quote by Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/205/jean-racine-4047_crime_great-crimes-come-never-singly-they-are_1276024.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/205/jean-racine-4047_crime_great-crimes-come-never-singly-they-are_1276024.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/205/jean-racine-4047_crime_great-crimes-come-never-singly-they-are_1276024.jpg) > “Great crimes come never singly; they are linked To sins that went before.” [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Crimes rarely happen alone; they are connected to previous misdeeds. **In simple terms:** Crimes are linked to past sins. Key Takeaway Address root causes to prevent new crimes. Themes crime causality history Mood serious reflective Type analytical warning When to use this quote - law enforcement - community safety - rehabilitation programs Key Concepts sociology psychology Questions to Reflect On - What past actions led to this crime? - How can we break the chain? A Different Perspective Focusing only on the latest crime may miss patterns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Crimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crimes/) [Crimes Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crimes-come-4107005/) [Great Crimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-crimes-1766428/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Linked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/linked/) [Linked Sins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/linked-sins-4107006/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Sins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sins/) ## Related quotes > [Small crimes always precede great crimes. Whoever has been able to transgress the limits set by law may afterwards violate the most sacred rights;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/small-crimes-always-precede-great-crimes-whoever-has-been-able-to/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [Some smaller crimes always precede the great crimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/some-smaller-crimes-always-precede-the-great-crimes/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [All the great crimes of history, lest we forget, have their genesis in the moral wilderness of their times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eskinder-nega/all-the-great-crimes-of-history-lest-we-forget-have-their-genesis-in/) [Eskinder Nega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eskinder-nega/) > [Most men only commit great crimes because of their scruples about petty ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-francois-paul-de-gondi/most-men-only-commit-great-crimes-because-of-their-scruples-about/) [Jean Francois Paul de Gondi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-francois-paul-de-gondi/) > [Petty laws breed great crimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/petty-laws-breed-great-crimes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When a number of crimes - for instance, burglaries - can be linked to the same offender, police often plot the locations on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goldstein/when-a-number-of-crimes-for-instance-burglaries-can-be-linked-to-the/) [Daniel Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goldstein/) > [Those who are incapable of committing great crimes do not readily suspect them in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/those-who-are-incapable-of-committing-great-crimes-do-not-readily/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“The more you love her, the crazier you get. My love was great. My crimes were greater.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/the-more-you-love-her-the-crazier-you-get-my-love-was-great-my-crimes/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [Those who are themselves incapable of great crimes are ever backward to suspect others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/those-who-are-themselves-incapable-of-great-crimes-are-ever-backward/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Luther was guilty of two great crimes - he struck the Pope in his crown, and the monks in their belly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/luther-was-guilty-of-two-great-crimes-he-struck-the-pope-in-his-crown/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [I think that the over-incarceration of black and brown folk is one of the great crimes of American society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/i-think-that-the-over-incarceration-of-black-and-brown-folk-is-one-of/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [Small crimes always precedes great ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/small-crimes-always-precedes-great-ones/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [Small crimes always precede great ones. Never have we seen timid innocence pass suddenly to extreme licentiousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/small-crimes-always-precede-great-ones-never-have-we-seen-timid/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [Among our crimes oblivion may be set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/among-our-crimes-oblivion-may-be-set/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) [Joe Pitts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-pitts/) ## More by Jean Racine > [Too much virtue can be criminal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/too-much-virtue-can-be-criminal/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [Honor, without money, is a mere malady.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/honor-without-money-is-a-mere-malady/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [The part I remember best is the beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/the-part-i-remember-best-is-the-beginning/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [A noble heart cannot suspect in others the pettiness and malice that it has never felt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/a-noble-heart-cannot-suspect-in-others-the-pettiness-and-malice-that/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [Justice in the extreme is often unjust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/justice-in-the-extreme-is-often-unjust/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [I embrace my rival, but only to strangle him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/i-embrace-my-rival-but-only-to-strangle-him/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [“Le nom d'amant peut-être offense son courage; Mais il en a les yeux, s'il n'en a le langage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/le-nom-d-amant-peut-tre-offense-son-courage-mais-il-en-a-les-yeux-s/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [The face of tyranny Is always mild at first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/the-face-of-tyranny-is-always-mild-at-first/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [My only hope lies in my despair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/my-only-hope-lies-in-my-despair/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [When I'm carried away, isn't it clear that my heart contradicts my mouth?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/when-i-m-carried-away-isn-t-it-clear-that-my-heart-contradicts-my/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [Life is a comedy to those who think; a tragedy to those who feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/life-is-a-comedy-to-those-who-think-a-tragedy-to-those-who-feel/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [If I could believe that this was said sincerely, I could put up with anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/if-i-could-believe-that-this-was-said-sincerely-i-could-put-up-with/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [Can a faith that does nothing be called sincere?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/can-a-faith-that-does-nothing-be-called-sincere/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [Behind a veil, unseen yet present, I was the forceful soul that moved this mighty body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/behind-a-veil-unseen-yet-present-i-was-the-forceful-soul-that-moved/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [It is a maxim of old that among themselves all things are common to friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/it-is-a-maxim-of-old-that-among-themselves-all-things-are-common-to/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) [Explore all 106 Jean Racine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) ## More Crime quotes > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [“Crime and punishment can be summed up in two classifications: there are bad people and there are people who get into bad situations. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/crime-and-punishment-can-be-summed-up-in-two-classifications-there/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [“The jailers, the Court, everyone in that building – it wasn’t about justice; it was about obedience and intimidation…about maintaining order. Fear accomplished that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/the-jailers-the-court-everyone-in-that-building-it-wasn-t-about/) [Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/) > [Taking notes while watching Forensic Files and Snapped. I don't want to make the same mistakes the criminals do! ;)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/taking-notes-while-watching-forensic-files-and-snapped-i-don-t-want/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/a-man-could-be-a-lover-and-defender-of-the-wilderness-without-ever-in/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [Nations sometimes flourish by denying the crimes that brought them into being. Only when the original invasion, occupation, extermination or usurpation has been safely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/nations-sometimes-flourish-by-denying-the-crimes-that-brought-them/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [The danger that may really threaten (crime fiction) is that soon there will be more writers than readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-danger-that-may-really-threaten-crime-fiction-is-that-soon-there/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [“a crime to fell a tree and light it on fire, where coals of hardened shit warmed and stunk up homes,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/a-crime-to-fell-a-tree-and-light-it-on-fire-where-coals-of-hardened/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [A great read; an exciting, frightening account of organized crime today. But like all important works of nonfiction, it goes further… This book is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/le-ly-hayslip/a-great-read-an-exciting-frightening-account-of-organized-crime-today/) [Le Ly Hayslip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/le-ly-hayslip/) > [History is the study of the world's crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/history-is-the-study-of-the-world-s-crime/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [If it comes to a question of law, the charges they brought against me - the Espionage Act - is called the quintessential political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-it-comes-to-a-question-of-law-the-charges-they-brought-against-me/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Too much virtue can be criminal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/too-much-virtue-can-be-criminal/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [The federal prison population increased by almost 800 percent between 1980 and 2013, often at a far faster rate than the Bureau of Prisons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-yates/the-federal-prison-population-increased-by-almost-800-percent-between/) [Sally Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-yates/) > [ \[P\]rogress, however, has not sufficiently infiltrated the Interior Ministry, affording protection to those who participated in the Bytyqi murders and other egregious Milosevic-era crimes. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avis-bohlen/p-rogress-however-has-not-sufficiently-infiltrated-the-interior/) [Avis Bohlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avis-bohlen/) [Browse all 8,359 Crime quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Great crimes come never singly; they are linked To sins that went before.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jean Racine" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/great-crimes-come-never-singly-they-are-linked-to-sins-that-went/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Crime" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/great-crimes-come-never-singly-they-are-linked-to-sins-that-went/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/205/jean-racine-4047_crime_great-crimes-come-never-singly-they-are_1276024.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/205/jean-racine-4047_crime_great-crimes-come-never-singly-they-are_1276024.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/205/jean-racine-4047_crime_great-crimes-come-never-singly-they-are_1276024.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Great crimes come never singly; they are linked To sins that went before.” — Jean Racine", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jean Racine", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Great crimes come never singly; they...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/great-crimes-come-never-singly-they-are-linked-to-sins-that-went/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/great-crimes-come-never-singly-they-are-linked-to-sins-that-went/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```