Crime Quote by Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly
““And, in fact, if these crimes appeal less to the senses, they appeal more to the mind; and the mind, in the last analysis, is the profoundest part of us. For the novelist, therefore, there is a new type of tragedy to be derived from these crimes, more intellectual than physical in character, which do not really seem to be crimes to the superficial judgement of old materialistic societies because they do not involve bloodshed, and murder is committed only in the sphere of feelings and manners.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Les Diaboliques, 1874
Some crimes affect the mind more than the body, creating intellectual tragedy without physical violence.
In simple terms: Mind‑focused tragedy.
Key Takeaway
Recognize non‑physical harm.
Themes
morality
psychology
tragedy
Mood
analytical
thought‑provoking
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- legal analysis
- literary critique
- ethical debates
Key Concepts
Intellectual crime
emotional impact
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we judge non‑violent crimes?
- Can intellectual harm be as severe as physical?
A Different Perspective
Physical evidence often dominates moral judgment.
![“Now, Mesnilgrand saw himself come to full maturity without the great military career that he had hoped for, his sword rusting in its scabbard, his feelings swelling up into the bitterest kind of rage. [...] An ingenious moralist, preoccupid by how illogical our destinies appear to be, once…” quote by Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/83f/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly-26843_dissapointment_now-mesnilgrand-saw-himself-come-to-full_2278495.jpg)
