The main conceptions of the non-dislocation theory ofcrystal strength have been proposed. These are the thermal stress, the temperature coefficient of thermal stress, and the initial microstrain cin a t which the thermal stresses start. These conceptions made possible an explanation of the crystal lattice mechanical instability that is well known from strength tests. A new simple form of Morse potential, a relation for the thermal stress, and a way to find the temperature coefficient in this relation have been advanced. Some measurements of very high and of common practice strengths of crystals were compared with theoretical suppositions and calculations.