[Ads-l] Quote Origin: It Was Worse Than a Crime; It Was a Blunder

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

In 1804 the Duke of Enghien was accused of aiding Britain and plotting
against Napoleon. Enghien was found guilty and executed. This rapid
and brutal action shocked the aristocrats of Europe. Here are two
versions of a famous response to this event in French and English:

(1) C’est plus qu’un crime, c’est une faute.
(2) C’est pire qu’un crime, c’est une faute.

(A) It is more than a crime; it is a blunder.
(B) It is worse than a crime; it is a blunder.

This remark has been attributed to the diplomat Charles Maurice de
Talleyrand-Périgord, the police chief Joseph Fouché, the magistrate
Antoine Boulay de la Meurthe, and the military leader Napoleon
Bonaparte. I received a few requests to investigate.

A match appeared in the memoirs of the French novelist Germaine de
Staël which were written between 1810 and 1813. De Staël died in 1817,
and her memoirs were published posthumously by her son. She wrote
about the death of the Duke of Enghien, and she attributed the saying
to Joseph Fouché.

[Begin excerpt]
Fouché lui-même blâmait cette action ; il avait dit ce mot si
caractéristique du régime actuel : « C’est pis qu’un crime ; c’est une
faute. » Il ya bien des pensées renfermées dans cette phrase ; mais
heureusement qu’on peut la retourner avec vérité, en affirmant que la
plus grande des fautes, c’est le crime.
[End excerpt]

[Begin translation]
Fouché himself condemned the act; he had uttered that remark so
characteristic of the current regime: “It is worse than a crime; it is
a blunder.” There are many thoughts encapsulated within this phrase;
yet, fortunately, one can truthfully reverse it by asserting that the
greatest of blunders is crime itself.
[End translation]

Another match appeared in a journal entry written by Emmanuel, comte
de Las Cases dated April 1816 in the work “Mémorial de Sainte-Hélène”
(“Memorial of Saint Helena”). Fouché received credit for the saying.
In addition, Fouché took direct credit for the remark in his memoirs
which were published in 1824.

Joseph Fouché is the leading candidate for creator of this saying.
Talleyrand received credit in 1822. Napoleon received credit in 1844.
Antoine Boulay de la Meurthe received credit in 1870.

Here is a link to the Quote Investigator article:
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2026/05/06/crime-blunder/

Feedback welcome
Garson O'Toole

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org