"Crime is a product of social excess"

Vladimir Lenin's quote "Crime is an item of social excess" suggests that criminal offense is a result of an imbalance in society. He thought that when particular social conditions are not satisfied, such as hardship, inequality, and illiteracy, individuals are most likely to commit crimes. He argued that when people are deprived of fundamental needs, they are most likely to rely on criminal offense as a way to make it through. He also thought that when people are not provided the chance to succeed, they are more likely to turn to criminal activities. Lenin argued that criminal offense is a sign of a bigger issue in society, which it is the responsibility of the government to resolve these issues in order to lower crime. He thought that by resolving the origin of crime, such as poverty and inequality, society might lower the amount of criminal activity.