Outsiders are the bane of the police as of other professions.
 Joseph Conrad, The Secret Agent (1907). copy citation

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Author Joseph Conrad
Source The Secret Agent
Topic police profession
Date 1907
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/974/974-h/974-h.htm

Context

“He was strong in his integrity of a good detective, but he saw now that an impenetrably attentive reserve towards this incident would have served his reputation better. On the other hand, he admitted to himself that it was difficult to preserve one’s reputation if rank outsiders were going to take a hand in the business. Outsiders are the bane of the police as of other professions. The tone of the Assistant Commissioner’s remarks had been sour enough to set one’s teeth on edge. And since breakfast Chief Inspector Heat had not managed to get anything to eat. Starting immediately to begin his investigation on the spot, he had swallowed a good deal of raw, unwholesome fog in the park.” source