"The most dangerous criminal now is the entirely lawless modern philosopher. Compared to him, burglars and bigamists are essentially moral men"

This quote by Gilbert K. Chesterton is a criticism of contemporary viewpoint. He is recommending that contemporary philosophers are more dangerous than wrongdoers, such as burglars and bigamists, due to the fact that they are completely lawless. Chesterton indicates that crooks, while still breaking the law, are basically ethical in contrast to modern-day theorists who have no regard for the law. He is recommending that modern-day theorists are more unsafe due to the fact that they are not bound by any moral code or laws, and for that reason can do whatever they please. This quote is a warning to society that modern-day thinkers ought to not be ignored, as their lawlessness can result in harmful consequences.