What confers this character upon them is not the intrinsic quality of a given act but that definition which the collective conscience lends them. In other words, it will designate them as criminal. Indeed, it is no longer possible today to dispute the fact that law and morality vary from one social type to the next, nor that they change within the same type if the conditions of life are modified. But, in order that these transformations may be possible, the collec tive sentiments at the basis of morality must not be hostile to change, and consequently must have but moderate energy. If they were too strong, they would no longer be plastic.
Every pattern is an obstacle to new patterns, to the extent that the first pattern is inflexible.
Nothing is good indefinitely and to an unlimited extent. To make progress, individual originality must be able to express itself. In order that the originality of the ideal ist whose dreams transcend his century may find expression, it is nec essary that the originality of the criminal, who is below the level of his time, shall also be possible. One does not occur without the other. Nor is this all.