Steal the goose, and give the giblets in alms.
Steal the goose, and give the giblets in alms.
Meaning in plain English
A small charitable gesture does not make a larger dishonest act acceptable. Consider where the benefit came from rather than letting a visible donation conceal the wrong that supplied it.
Example
A group rejects the claim that returning a few borrowed supplies excuses keeping the rest without permission, and asks for the whole arrangement to be corrected.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The goose is stolen, while only its giblets are given away as alms. The contrast presents a small act of generosity performed using the proceeds of a much larger wrong. It questions an appearance of virtue that leaves the underlying conduct unchanged. The saying does not establish that every donor has acted dishonestly or that a donation is worthless whenever the giver has made a mistake. The useful distinction is between helping someone and using that help to distract from an unresolved wrong. A genuine response may require addressing the original loss rather than treating a token contribution as sufficient repair.
When to use it
Use it when a small good gesture is offered as an excuse for a larger unresolved wrong.
Keep in mind
Do not assume misconduct from generosity alone; assess the actual conduct and what repair is needed.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 28 · Alms
Read the original context ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · historical anthology
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Public domain (United States)
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
Provenance and licences ↗