proverb · Words worth keeping
He that will steal a pin will steal a better thing.
He that will steal a pin will steal a better thing.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
A small dishonest taking can be a reason to examine trust. The saying imagines escalation to something more valuable but does not establish that escalation as certain.
What the words are saying
The pin represents an item easy to dismiss as insignificant. The saying argues that the choice to take it matters beyond its price. That can support attention to consent and honesty in small transactions. It should not become a permanent condemnation or a reason for disproportionate punishment. A useful application identifies the wrong, seeks correction and considers what conditions would support trustworthy conduct in future.
Everyday example
Someone returns a small item taken without permission and discusses how to prevent the same lapse recurring.
When to use it
Use it to recognise that consent and honesty matter even for low-value things.
What it does not mean
An offence deserves proportionate assessment, and people can repair harm and change.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 1522 · Steal
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- English