This quote by Lucius Annaeus Seneca recommends that when someone devotes a criminal activity, they need to cover it up with another criminal activity in order to prevent being captured. This could be interpreted as a caution against the effects of devoting a criminal offense, as it suggests that the criminal must continue to dedicate a growing number of crimes in order to prevent being caught. It likewise indicates that the criminal is likely to become more and more desperate as they attempt to conceal their original criminal offense. This quote could be viewed as a cautionary tale, cautioning people versus the threats of devoting a crime and the effects that can follow. It suggests that once somebody has actually devoted a criminal offense, they must continue to dedicate more in order to prevent being captured, which this can cause a dangerous cycle of criminal behavior.
"Addiction should never be treated as a crime. It has to be treated as a health problem. We do not send alcoholics to jail in this country. Over 500,000 people are in our jails who are nonviolent drug users"
