--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So the difference between a criminal and…" description: "\"“So the difference between a criminal and a hero is the order in which their vile crimes are committed. And justice comes with a sell-by date. In that ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20a/lois-mcmaster-bujold-716_crimes_so-the-difference-between-a-criminal-and_1327939.jpg" --- # So the difference between a criminal and a hero is the… ![“So the difference between a criminal and a hero is the order in which their vile crimes are committed. And justice comes with a sell-by date. In that case, you’d better hurry. You wouldn't want your heroism to spoil.” quote by Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20a/lois-mcmaster-bujold-716_crimes_so-the-difference-between-a-criminal-and_1327939.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20a/lois-mcmaster-bujold-716_crimes_so-the-difference-between-a-criminal-and_1327939.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20a/lois-mcmaster-bujold-716_crimes_so-the-difference-between-a-criminal-and_1327939.jpg) > ““So the difference between a criminal and a hero is the order in which their vile crimes are committed. And justice comes with a sell-by date. In that case, you’d better hurry. You wouldn't want your heroism to spoil.”” [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Heroism and villainy are distinguished only by timing; justice is fleeting, so act before moral decay sets in. **In simple terms:** Heroes and villains differ by when they act; justice expires. Key Takeaway Act quickly before moral decay. Themes morality justice heroism villainy Mood urgent reflective Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - political decisionmaking - law enforcement - personal reputation - media narratives Key Concepts temporal ethics moral relativism Questions to Reflect On - How does timing affect moral judgment? - Can justice be truly impartial? A Different Perspective Justice may be delayed, allowing harm to persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crimes/) [Criminal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminal/) [Criminals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminals/) [Good and evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-and-evil/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Heroism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heroism/) [Hypocrisy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypocrisy/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) ## Related quotes > [There are many ways to be a criminal or hero. Don't forget that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caragh-m-o-brien/there-are-many-ways-to-be-a-criminal-or-hero-don-t-forget-that/) [Caragh M. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caragh-m-o-brien/) > [What is the difference between me and a criminal? My crimes were not caught. Those of us whose crimes were not caught are on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-patekar/what-is-the-difference-between-me-and-a-criminal-my-crimes-were-not/) [Nana Patekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-patekar/) > [We have secrets, and we have the same secrets that criminals have. Sometimes the only difference between a criminal and a law-abiding citizen is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/we-have-secrets-and-we-have-the-same-secrets-that-criminals-have/) [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) > [It doesn't take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/it-doesn-t-take-a-hero-to-order-men-into-battle-it-takes-a-hero-to-be-2/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [' It doesn't take a Hero to order men into battle. It takes a Hero to be one of those men who goes into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/it-doesn-t-take-a-hero-to-order-men-into-battle-it-takes-a-hero-to-be/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [“Any profession you engage in, no matter how profitable, unless it is truly helpful and good for others, is a crime against your soul,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/any-profession-you-engage-in-no-matter-how-profitable-unless-it-is/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [Formerly we suffered from crimes; now we suffer from laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/formerly-we-suffered-from-crimes-now-we-suffer-from-laws/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Crimes against women are growing day by day. Despite this, the mindset of our leaders, politicians, or judicial system is not changing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raveena-tandon/crimes-against-women-are-growing-day-by-day-despite-this-the-mindset/) [Raveena Tandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raveena-tandon/) > [Heinous crimes are not new to our society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjay-mishra/heinous-crimes-are-not-new-to-our-society/) [Sanjay Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjay-mishra/) > [I've always thought that you don't love a country by turning a blind eye to its crimes and to a problem. The way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-ve-always-thought-that-you-don-t-love-a-country-by-turning-a-blind/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [High testosterone levels have been proven to make men more likely to commit crimes. The tendency in men toward risky behaviour keeps turning up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/high-testosterone-levels-have-been-proven-to-make-men-more-likely-to/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [I stated that Hiroshima and Nagasaki are 'among the most unspeakable crimes in history.' I took no position on just where they stand on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-stated-that-hiroshima-and-nagasaki-are-among-the-most-unspeakable/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The greatest of all crimes are the wars that are carried on by governments, to plunder, enslave, and destroy mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/the-greatest-of-all-crimes-are-the-wars-that-are-carried-on-by/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [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 ## More by Lois McMaster Bujold > [What you are is a question only you can answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/what-you-are-is-a-question-only-you-can-answer/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [Never do yourself, what you can con professionals into doing for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/never-do-yourself-what-you-can-con-professionals-into-doing-for-you/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“It reminded him of that definition of his father's. A weapon is a device for making your enemy change his mind. The mind was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/it-reminded-him-of-that-definition-of-his-father-s-a-weapon-is-a/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“I was imagining the most bizarre things befalling you.” “Did they include a six-hundred-pound ice bear and a pirate poet?” “No…” “Then they weren’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/i-was-imagining-the-most-bizarre-things-befalling-you-did-they/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [There is a sad disconnectedness that overcomes a library when its owner is gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/there-is-a-sad-disconnectedness-that-overcomes-a-library-when-its/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“No, amusing me only, I wonder if they realize how they are used?" "Not a bit. They think they are the emperors of creation."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/no-amusing-me-only-i-wonder-if-they-realize-how-they-are-used-not-a/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“You bastards are on the top of Imperial Lord Auditor Miles Vorkosigan's very own shit list now, you bet. But under what name? Only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/you-bastards-are-on-the-top-of-imperial-lord-auditor-miles-vorkosigan/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“Anyway, if the Cetagandans really wanted to assassinate you, they'd hardly do it here. They'd slip something subtle under your skin that wouldn't go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/anyway-if-the-cetagandans-really-wanted-to-assassinate-you-they-d/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [Endure pain, find joy, and make your own meaning, because the universe certainly isn't going to supply it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/endure-pain-find-joy-and-make-your-own-meaning-because-the-universe/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [Your Reverence, I do not hate any man in this world enough to inflict the results of my prayers upon him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/your-reverence-i-do-not-hate-any-man-in-this-world-enough-to-inflict/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“I always thought my parents could fix anything. Now it's my turn. Dear God, how did this happen?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/i-always-thought-my-parents-could-fix-anything-now-it-s-my-turn-dear/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“I think it is not so much the growth of virtue, as simply the replacement of prior vices with an addiction to one’s god.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/i-think-it-is-not-so-much-the-growth-of-virtue-as-simply-the/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“Mark’s ideas tended to the bland, and there was no point in asking Miles, whose embittered suggestions all ran to things like Vomit Vanilla…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/mark-s-ideas-tended-to-the-bland-and-there-was-no-point-in-asking/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [The dead cannot cry out for justice. It is a duty of the living to do so for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/the-dead-cannot-cry-out-for-justice-it-is-a-duty-of-the-living-to-do/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“Gardens were meant to be seen, smelled, walked through, grubbed in. A hundred objective measurements didn't sum the worth of a garden; only the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/gardens-were-meant-to-be-seen-smelled-walked-through-grubbed-in-a/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) [Explore all 392 Lois McMaster Bujold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) ## More Crimes quotes > [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 > [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 greatest of all crimes are the wars that are carried on by governments, to plunder, enslave, and destroy mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/the-greatest-of-all-crimes-are-the-wars-that-are-carried-on-by/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [I stated that Hiroshima and Nagasaki are 'among the most unspeakable crimes in history.' I took no position on just where they stand on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-stated-that-hiroshima-and-nagasaki-are-among-the-most-unspeakable/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [High testosterone levels have been proven to make men more likely to commit crimes. The tendency in men toward risky behaviour keeps turning up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/high-testosterone-levels-have-been-proven-to-make-men-more-likely-to/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [I've always thought that you don't love a country by turning a blind eye to its crimes and to a problem. The way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-ve-always-thought-that-you-don-t-love-a-country-by-turning-a-blind/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [Heinous crimes are not new to our society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjay-mishra/heinous-crimes-are-not-new-to-our-society/) [Sanjay Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjay-mishra/) > [Crimes against women are growing day by day. Despite this, the mindset of our leaders, politicians, or judicial system is not changing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raveena-tandon/crimes-against-women-are-growing-day-by-day-despite-this-the-mindset/) [Raveena Tandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raveena-tandon/) > [Formerly we suffered from crimes; now we suffer from laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/formerly-we-suffered-from-crimes-now-we-suffer-from-laws/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [“Any profession you engage in, no matter how profitable, unless it is truly helpful and good for others, is a crime against your soul,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/any-profession-you-engage-in-no-matter-how-profitable-unless-it-is/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [The greatest crimes are to associate another with God, to vex your father and mother, to murder your own species, to commit suicide, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad/the-greatest-crimes-are-to-associate-another-with-god-to-vex-your/) [Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad/) > [It is the greatest of crimes to depress true art and science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/it-is-the-greatest-of-crimes-to-depress-true-art-and-science/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [“The greatest crimes in the world are not committed by people breaking the rules, but by people following the rules.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greatest-crimes-in-the-world-are-not-committed-by-people-breaking/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In life there are many thing's you may not like or want but is necessary for stability and sustainability for life and its environment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymouse/in-life-there-are-many-thing-s-you-may-not-like-or-want-but-is/) Anonymouse > [The trial organized with U.N. participation of some kind will be for crimes committed by Khmer Rouge leaders from 1975 to 1979. That's it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hun-sen/the-trial-organized-with-u-n-participation-of-some-kind-will-be-for/) [Hun Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hun-sen/) [Browse all 276 Crimes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crimes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“So the difference between a criminal and a hero is the order in which their vile crimes are committed. And justice comes with a sell-by date. In that case, you’d better hurry. 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