Proper quote (from https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Honor%C3%A9_de_Balzac#Le_P.C3.A8re_Goriot_.281835.29 https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Honor%C3%A9_de_Balzac#Le_P.C

Proper quote (from https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Honor%C3%A9_de_Balzac#Le_P.C3.A8re_Goriot_.281835.29 https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Honor%C3%A9_de_Balzac#Le_P.C3....) The secret of great fortunes without apparent cause is a crime forgotten, for it was properly done The key part that people keep omitting is "without apparent cause". If the cause is apparent, there is no need to speculate about possible crimes: just look at the cause and decide if it's criminal or not.