Honoré de Balzac

Behind every great fortune there is a crime.
—Honoré de Balzac

The secret of a great success for which you are at a loss to account is a crime that has never been found out, because it was properly executed.
-Honoré de Balzac


Le secret des grandes fortunes sans cause apparente est un crime oublié, parce qu’il a été proprement fait.
Honoré de Balzac