There is no honour among thieves.
There is no honour among thieves.
Meaning in plain English
The saying denies honour among thieves. It expresses distrust of integrity in a group identified through wrongdoing.
Example
A reader notices the negative claim and asks what evidence supports an allegation about a particular agreement.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
No makes the judgment absolute. The supplied gloss describes honour among thieves without the negation, so it does not explain the actual claim. A responsible interpretation can discuss the cynical view while refusing to infer every person’s conduct from a label or to establish a criminal code of behaviour.
When to use it
Use it to analyse the stated distrust rather than generalise from a label.
Keep in mind
No universal group behaviour or actual code of conduct is verified.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- Contributor-provided proverb reference
Supplied reference A; unit 329; PDF page 50
Reuse and collection notes ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · supplied collection
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Contributor-confirmed reuse permission
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
Provenance and licences ↗
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