Quote by Jane Austen
Could they be perpetrated without being known, in a country like this, where social and literary intercourse is on such a footing, where every man is surrounded by a neighbourhood of voluntary spies, and where roads and newspapers lay everything open?
Summary
This quote highlights the idea that it would be nearly impossible for crimes to go unnoticed or unpunished in a society where there is extensive social interaction, widespread literacy, and constant access to information through roads and newspapers. The presence of a community of vigilant individuals and avenues for information sharing make it difficult for anyone to escape detection or avoid accountability for their actions. This suggests that the level of surveillance and transparency in such a society acts as a deterrent to criminal behavior.
Topics
Man
By Jane Austen