Full Idea
Clever criminals are exactly like those runners who do well on the way up the track, and then flag on the way back.
Gist of Idea
Clever criminals do well at first, but not in the long run
Source
Plato (The Republic [c.371 BCE], 613b)
Book Reference
Plato: 'Republic', ed/tr. Waterfield,Robin [OUP 1993], p.370
A Reaction
Presumably there is some concept of natural justice lurking behind this comparison. Apart from the money, though, it is hard to imagine any professional criminal leading a flourishing life.