--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The source of every crime, is some defect…" description: "\"The source of every crime, is some defect of the understanding; or some error in reasoning; or some sudden force of the passions. Defect in the underst..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81a/thomas-hobbes-1127_crime_the-source-of-every-crime-is-some-defect_2166818.jpg" --- # The source of every crime, is some defect of the… ![“The source of every crime, is some defect of the understanding; or some error in reasoning; or some sudden force of the passions. Defect in the understanding is ignorance; in reasoning, erroneous opinion.” quote by Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81a/thomas-hobbes-1127_crime_the-source-of-every-crime-is-some-defect_2166818.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81a/thomas-hobbes-1127_crime_the-source-of-every-crime-is-some-defect_2166818.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81a/thomas-hobbes-1127_crime_the-source-of-every-crime-is-some-defect_2166818.jpg) > “The source of every crime, is some defect of the understanding; or some error in reasoning; or some sudden force of the passions. Defect in the understanding is ignorance; in reasoning, erroneous opinion.” [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Crime stems from ignorance, faulty reasoning, or uncontrolled passions; understanding and rational thought can prevent wrongdoing. **In simple terms:** Crime arises from lack of knowledge, bad logic, or strong emotions. Key Takeaway Improve education and critical thinking to reduce crime. Themes justice knowledge emotion reason Mood thoughtful analytical Type theoretical inspirational When to use this quote - school curricula - judicial reform - public policy - conflict resolution Key Concepts philosophy psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can education address emotional impulses? - What role does societal structure play in mitigating crime? A Different Perspective Addressing only one cause may not fully prevent crime; systemic factors also matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Crime Defect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime-defect-3229415/) [Defects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defects/) [Errors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/errors/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Ignorance Reasoning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance-reasoning-4621905/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Leviathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leviathan/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Reasoning Erroneous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasoning-erroneous-4621906/) [Source](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/source/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Understanding Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding-ignorance-1772851/) ## Related quotes > [“The source of every crime, is some defect of the understanding; or some error in reasoning; or some sudden force of the passions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/the-source-of-every-crime-is-some-defect-of-the-understanding-or-some/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [I think humility - which I think is a very good value to adopt - is basically an extension of understanding your own ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/i-think-humility-which-i-think-is-a-very-good-value-to-adopt-is/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [“By being “educated” I mean having such an apprehension of the contours of the map of what has been written in the past, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hutchison-murray/by-being-educated-i-mean-having-such-an-apprehension-of-the-contours/) [William Hutchison Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hutchison-murray/) > [Fear of things invisible is the natural seed of that which everyone in himself calleth religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/fear-of-things-invisible-is-the-natural-seed-of-that-which-everyone/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [Where there is no common power, there is no law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/where-there-is-no-common-power-there-is-no-law/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [Nature hath made men so equal in the faculties of body and mind, as that though there be found one man sometimes manifestly stronger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/nature-hath-made-men-so-equal-in-the-faculties-of-body-and-mind-as/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [“For by Art is created that great LEVIATHAN called a COMMON-WEALTH, or STATE, (in latine CIVITAS) which is but an Artificiall Man; though of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/for-by-art-is-created-that-great-leviathan-called-a-common-wealth-or/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [If any two men desire the same thing, which nevertheless they cannot both enjoy, they become enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/if-any-two-men-desire-the-same-thing-which-nevertheless-they-cannot/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [Moral philosophy is nothing else but the science of what is good, and evil, in the conversation, and society of mankind. 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