[pdog]

The full quote isn't apocryphal. It's from a character in Balzac's Le Père Goriot.

Roughly translated: "The secret of great unexplained fortunes is a forgotten crime, because it has been properly executed."

The quote isn't really applicable in this case. Everyone reading the article knows how the Sackler family made their money.

[brucelidl]

Everyone reading the article knows the source of the fortune. The millions of people who have interacted with Sackler supported cultural institutions likely had zero idea of where the money came from, myself included.

[pdog]

This also raises an important question.

Do these museums have a responsibility to disclose the source of the Sackler family's wealth?

[ada1981]

This would be a good focal point for activist work.

[mcguire]

Probably not, but it would be amusing to see the Met's response to a large protest.