“Crime when it succeeds is called virtue.”
- c. 4 BC – AD 65
- Roman
- Philosopher, Statesman, Dramatist, Stoic Thinker, Advisor to Emperor Nero
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Quote
“Crime when it succeeds is called virtue.”
Explanation
When wrongdoing achieves its goal, society often rebrands it as admirable. Seneca the Younger exposes a dark irony of human judgment: acts that are morally corrupt may be celebrated if they bring power, victory, or success. In this way, crime cloaks itself in the language of virtue once it has prevailed.
This insight reflects the Stoic concern with true moral character versus public perception. Seneca criticizes the tendency to equate success with righteousness, warning that fame, conquest, or influence do not sanctify the means by which they are achieved. The crowd may cheer a victor, but the wise discern whether that triumph was just. This serves as a critique of both political power and social hypocrisy.
In modern life, this quote resonates in business, politics, and history—where unethical behavior is often excused or admired when it results in profit or dominance. Seneca’s wisdom challenges us to judge actions not by outcomes, but by their moral foundation, and to remember that true virtue is not defined by applause, but by integrity.
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