--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Morality is a burglar's tool whose merit…" description: "\"Morality is a burglar's tool whose merit lies in never being left behind at the scene of the crime.\" — Karl Kraus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/karl-kraus-1128_behinds_morality-is-a-burglar-s-tool-whose-merit_1747102.png" --- # Morality is a burglar's tool whose merit lies in never… ![“Morality is a burglar's tool whose merit lies in never being left behind at the scene of the crime.” quote by Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/karl-kraus-1128_behinds_morality-is-a-burglar-s-tool-whose-merit_1747102.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/karl-kraus-1128_behinds_morality-is-a-burglar-s-tool-whose-merit_1747102.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/karl-kraus-1128_behinds_morality-is-a-burglar-s-tool-whose-merit_1747102.png) > “Morality is a burglar's tool whose merit lies in never being left behind at the scene of the crime.” [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Morality is portrayed as a tool used by thieves, suggesting it can be misused to justify wrongdoing. **In simple terms:** Morality can be misused. Key Takeaway Critically examine moral justifications. Themes ethics deception power dynamics Mood critical analytical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - legal debates - philosophical discussions - political rhetoric Key Concepts Moral relativism instrumental ethics Questions to Reflect On - When does morality become a weapon? - How can we safeguard ethical integrity? A Different Perspective Morality also guides genuine good. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/) [Burglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burglar/) [Burglar Tool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burglar-tool-1570915/) [Burglars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burglars/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left/) [Left behind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-behind/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Merit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merit/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Morality Burglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality-burglar-1570914/) [Scene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scene/) [Tools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tools/) ## Related quotes > [God is a sort of burglar. As a young man you knock him down; as an old man you try to conciliate him, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-beerbohm-tree/god-is-a-sort-of-burglar-as-a-young-man-you-knock-him-down-as-an-old/) [Herbert Beerbohm Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-beerbohm-tree/) > [“But he's nice," Barby objected. Tom Bishop smiled without humor. 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Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-gilbert/) > [“He smiled affably at the burglar, a burly fellow whom he continued to hold with one hand, as easily as if he had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-peters/he-smiled-affably-at-the-burglar-a-burly-fellow-whom-he-continued-to/) [Elizabeth Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-peters/) > [I'd probably be a burglar, I'd burgle people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tre-cool/i-d-probably-be-a-burglar-i-d-burgle-people/) [Tre Cool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tre-cool/) > [Your money, or your life. We know what to do when a burglar makes this demand of us, but not when God does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/your-money-or-your-life-we-know-what-to-do-when-a-burglar-makes-this/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [If you're a burglar, it's no good waiting about outside somebody's house, looking good with your swag bag ready. Just get in there, burgle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-holloway/if-you-re-a-burglar-it-s-no-good-waiting-about-outside-somebody-s/) [Ian Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-holloway/) > [It is the first time the burglar has been appointed as caretaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gough-whitlam/it-is-the-first-time-the-burglar-has-been-appointed-as-caretaker/) [Gough Whitlam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gough-whitlam/) > [Crime in the cities is very discouraging. Apartment house dwellers have locks, bolts, chains and bars on their doors. 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Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-r-wilder/) > [“The whole concept of some stranger making his way down our chimney - not that we had one - suggested burglary more readily than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomm-quackenbush/the-whole-concept-of-some-stranger-making-his-way-down-our-chimney/) [Thomm Quackenbush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomm-quackenbush/) > [I have an unconscious burglar living in my mind: If I read something, it's mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eddings/i-have-an-unconscious-burglar-living-in-my-mind-if-i-read-something/) [David Eddings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eddings/) > [“I have chosen Mr Baggins and that ought to be enough for all of you. If I say he is a Burglar, a Burglar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/i-have-chosen-mr-baggins-and-that-ought-to-be-enough-for-all-of-you/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) ## More by Karl Kraus > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [I don't like to meddle in my private affairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/i-don-t-like-to-meddle-in-my-private-affairs/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [A historian is not always a prophet facing backwards, but a journalist is always someone who afterwards knew everything beforehand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/a-historian-is-not-always-a-prophet-facing-backwards-but-a-journalist/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [When a man is treated like a beast, he says, 'After all, I'm human.' 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Otherwise one might as well love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/hate-must-make-a-man-productive-otherwise-one-might-as-well-love/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [One must read all writers twice--the good as well as the bad. The one kind will be recognized; the other, unmasked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/one-must-read-all-writers-twice-the-good-as-well-as-the-bad-the-one/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Children today laugh at fathers who tell them about dragons. 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Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) [Browse all 6,789 Behinds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Morality is a burglar's tool whose merit lies in never being left behind at the scene of the crime.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Karl Kraus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/morality-is-a-burglar-s-tool-whose-merit-lies-in-never-being-left/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Behinds" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/morality-is-a-burglar-s-tool-whose-merit-lies-in-never-being-left/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/karl-kraus-1128_behinds_morality-is-a-burglar-s-tool-whose-merit_1747102.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/karl-kraus-1128_behinds_morality-is-a-burglar-s-tool-whose-merit_1747102.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/karl-kraus-1128_behinds_morality-is-a-burglar-s-tool-whose-merit_1747102.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Morality is a burglar's tool whose merit lies in never being left behind at the scene of the crime.” — Karl Kraus", "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": "Karl Kraus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Morality is a burglar's tool whose...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/morality-is-a-burglar-s-tool-whose-merit-lies-in-never-being-left/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/morality-is-a-burglar-s-tool-whose-merit-lies-in-never-being-left/#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 } } ] } ```