It might be inscribed also on the threshold of each of his fictitious biographies.

Colonel Jack, Moll Flanders, Roxana, are not criminals from malice; they do not commit crimes for the mere pleasure of the fact.

They all believe that but for the force of circumstances they might have been orderly, contented, virtuous members of society.
A Colonel, a London Arab, a child of the criminal regiment, began to steal before he knew that it was not the approved way of making a livelihood.

Moll and Roxana were overreached by acts against which they were too weak to cope.

Even after they were tempted into taking the wrong turning, they did not pursue the downward road without compunction.