William Congreve Quotes

In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity.

Whoever is the first to cry "Stop the thief" is the one who is guilty.

The difference between a politician and a pickpocket is that a pickpocket doesn't always get indignant when you tell him to keep his hands to himself.

When a man has so far corrupted and prostituted the chastity of his mind, as to [profess] things he does not believe, he has prepared himself for the commission of every other crime.

Plagiarists are always suspicious of being stolen from, as pickpockets are observed commonly to walk with their hands in their breeches' pockets.

If you give me six lines written by the hand of the most honest of men, I will find something in them which will hang him.

Stealing, you'll go far in life. Actually, there is something funny about getting away with it.

A good politician is quite as unthinkable as an honest burglar.

I did steal socks, but I got caught... don't shoplift, anyone - don't do it! You're just gonna get caught.

Truth made you a traitor as it often does in a time of scoundrels.

I've definitely stolen a lot of things.

I am not a crook.

The first step towards vice is to shroud innocent actions in mystery, and whoever likes to conceal something sooner or later has reason to conceal it.

When I saw corruption, I was forced to find truth on my own. I couldn't swallow the hypocrisy.

Plagiarists are always suspicious of being stolen from.

… they seem to be such as would not swear, whore, nor be drunk, but they would lie, cozen and deceive.

As long as dishonorable success outranks honest effort—as long as society bows and cringes before the great thieves, there will be little ones enough to fill the jails.

He is only honest who is not discovered.

One of the great strengths of the Republicans is that they have no guilt and no shame. They’ll say anything.

Ronald Reagan is not a typical politician because he doesn't know how to lie, cheat, and steal. He's always had an agent for that.

To expect integrity or honesty in a politician is like trying to buy fish at a produce market.

Generosity is a part of my character, and I therefore hasten to assure this Government that I will never make an allegation of dishonesty against it wherever a simple explanation of stupidity will suffice.

The first thing a man will do for his ideals is lie.

A man is not honest simply because he never had a chance to steal

He who holds the ladder is as bad as the thief.