Character Quote by Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly
““Extreme civilization robs crime of its frightful poetry, and prevents the writer from restoring it. That would be too dreadful, say those good souls who want everything to be prettified, even the horrible. In the name of philanthropy, imbecile criminologists reduce the punishment, and inept moralists the crime, and what is more they reduce the crime only in order to reduce the punishment. Yet the crimes of extreme civilization are undoubtedly more atrocious than those of extreme barbarism, by virtue of their refinement, of the corruption they imply and of their superior degree of intellectualism. ("A Woman's Vengeance")””
About This Quote
Source Novel: A Woman's Vengeance by Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly, 1839
Civilization sanitizes crime, stripping its raw, unsettling truth, while claiming moral refinement.
In simple terms: Civilization hides crime's harsh reality.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the danger of sanitizing evil.
Themes
civilization
crime
morality
refinement
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- legal reform debates
- media coverage of crime
- philosophical discussions on morality
- education curricula
- public policy
- null
Key Concepts
aestheticization
ethical paradox
intellectual corruption
Questions to Reflect On
- How does polishing crime affect societal vigilance?
- Can refinement ever justify moral compromise?
A Different Perspective
Over-sanitization can obscure necessary vigilance and accountability.
![“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)
