#wisdom
"We usually assume that when people steal things, they steal because they want them. They may want them because they can eat them, wear them or otherwise use them; or because they can sell them; or even-if we are given to a psychoanalytic turn of mind because on some deep symbolic level they substitute or stand for something unconsciously desired but forbidden. All of these explanations have this in common, that they assume that the stealing is a means to an end, namely, the possession of some object of value, and that it is, in this sense, rational and utilitarian. However, the fact cannot be blinked-and this fact is of crucial importance in defining our problem-that much gang stealing has no such motivation at all."
React to this quote
More by Albert K. Cohen
See allResonant Thoughts
"Two friends went into an orchard. One of them possessing much worldly wisdom, immediately began to count the mango trees there and the number of mangoes each tree bore, and to estimate what might be t…"
— Ramakrishna
Religion1836–1886
Explore Further
Related Quotes
"Self-pity, a destroyer of perspective."
— Edmund Cooper"Malcolm X - An Islamic Perspective"
— Malcolm X"Our No. 1 enemy is ignorance. And I believe that is the No. 1 enemy for everyone — it's not understanding w…"
— Julian Assange"Since men in their endeavors behave, on the whole, not just instinctively, like the brutes, nor yet like ra…"
— Immanuel Kant"My mom used to give me messages like this: "Ummmmmmm...Scott called...IS HE THE GAY??!!" "Well, God, mom, I…"
— Margaret Cho"In business—every business—the bottom line is understanding the process. If you don't understand the proces…"
— Donald Trump