--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't steal; thou'lt never thus compete…" description: "\"Don't steal; thou'lt never thus compete successfully in business. Cheat.\" — Ambrose Bierce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b1/ambrose-bierce-140_business_don-t-steal-thou-lt-never-thus-compete-s_3029487.jpg" --- # Don't steal; thou'lt never thus compete successfully in… ![“Don't steal; thou'lt never thus compete successfully in business. Cheat.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b1/ambrose-bierce-140_business_don-t-steal-thou-lt-never-thus-compete-s_3029487.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b1/ambrose-bierce-140_business_don-t-steal-thou-lt-never-thus-compete-s_3029487.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b1/ambrose-bierce-140_business_don-t-steal-thou-lt-never-thus-compete-s_3029487.jpg) > “Don't steal; thou'lt never thus compete successfully in business. Cheat.” [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stealing hinders competition; cheating is a more effective, albeit unethical, business strategy. **In simple terms:** Cheating beats stealing in business. Key Takeaway Consider ethical shortcuts. Themes ethics competition business tactics Mood cynical critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - corporate - entrepreneurship - marketing Key Concepts moral philosophy strategic behavior Questions to Reflect On - Is cheating ever justified? - How does integrity affect long‑term success? A Different Perspective Unethical actions have legal/social consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Business Cheat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business-cheat-4942430/) [Cheat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheat/) [Compete Successfully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compete-successfully-886027/) [Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) [Steal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steal/) [Steal Thou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steal-thou-459447/) [Stealing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stealing/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [We in America can compete successfully with anyone in the world, and we're going to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/we-in-america-can-compete-successfully-with-anyone-in-the-world-and/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [If you were going to compete successfully in a white man's world, you had to learn to play the white man's game. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-campbell-hale/if-you-were-going-to-compete-successfully-in-a-white-man-s-world-you/) [Janet Campbell Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-campbell-hale/) > [Thou shalt not steal. I mean defensively. On offense, indeed thou shall steal and thou must.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-rickey/thou-shalt-not-steal-i-mean-defensively-on-offense-indeed-thou-shall/) [Branch Rickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-rickey/) > [It seems that wherever the Welfare State is involved, the moral precept, "Thou shalt not steal," becomes altered to say: "Thou shalt not steal,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-harper/it-seems-that-wherever-the-welfare-state-is-involved-the-moral/) [F. A. Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-a-harper/) > [If another woman steals your man, there's no better revenge than letting her keep him. Real men can;t be stolen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-another-woman-steals-your-man-there-s-no-better-revenge-than/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You must remember always to give, of everything you have. You must give foolishly even. You must be extravagant. You must give to all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/you-must-remember-always-to-give-of-everything-you-have-you-must-give/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [If you must steal, steal my sorrows. If you must lie, lie with me. & if you must cheat, cheat death, because I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-must-steal-steal-my-sorrows-if-you-must-lie-lie-with-me-if-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I lie, I cheat, and I steal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-guerrero/i-lie-i-cheat-and-i-steal/) [Eddie Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-guerrero/) > [Thou shalt not steal; an empty feat, When its so lucrative to cheat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-hugh-clough/thou-shalt-not-steal-an-empty-feat-when-its-so-lucrative-to-cheat/) [Arthur Hugh Clough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-hugh-clough/) > [You take great pride in never having lived up to anything Lie, steal, cheat, and kill, a real bad guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megadeth/you-take-great-pride-in-never-having-lived-up-to-anything-lie-steal/) [Megadeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megadeth/) > [Steal a chicken if you get a chance, Huck, because if you don't want it, someone else does and a good deed ain't never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/steal-a-chicken-if-you-get-a-chance-huck-because-if-you-don-t-want-it/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Someone has to really like you to go out there and physically get your CD. Shout out to everybody who actually paid for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginuwine/someone-has-to-really-like-you-to-go-out-there-and-physically-get/) [Ginuwine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginuwine/) > [I try to live in a little bit of my own joy and not let people steal it or take it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoda-kotb/i-try-to-live-in-a-little-bit-of-my-own-joy-and-not-let-people-steal/) [Hoda Kotb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoda-kotb/) > [“Having no applicable skills, in any possible area whatsoever, effectively makes me the master of redundancy. But that info is obsolete, like my insults…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-advise/having-no-applicable-skills-in-any-possible-area-whatsoever/) [Will Advise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-advise/) > [Every now and then we could steal somebody else's stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-kooper/every-now-and-then-we-could-steal-somebody-else-s-stuff/) [Al Kooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-kooper/) ## More by Ambrose Bierce > [OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. Arasthus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/obsessed-p-p-vexed-by-an-evil-spirit-like-the-gadarene-swine-and/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/review-v-t-to-set-your-wisdom-holding-not-a-doubt-of-it-although-in/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rubbish-n-worthless-matter-such-as-the-religions-philosophies/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/there-was-never-a-genius-who-was-not-thought-a-fool-until-he/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/telephone-n-an-invention-of-the-devil-which-abrogates-some-of-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Jealous, adj. Unduly concerned about the preservation of that which can be lost only if not worth keeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/jealous-adj-unduly-concerned-about-the-preservation-of-that-which-can/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RIDICULE, n. Words designed to show that the person of whom they are uttered is devoid of the dignity of character distinguishing him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/ridicule-n-words-designed-to-show-that-the-person-of-whom-they-are/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Think twice before you speak to a friend in need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/think-twice-before-you-speak-to-a-friend-in-need/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [TARIFF, n. A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the greed of his consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/tariff-n-a-scale-of-taxes-on-imports-designed-to-protect-the-domestic/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A bad marriage is like an electrical thrilling machine: it makes you dance, but you can't let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-bad-marriage-is-like-an-electrical-thrilling-machine-it-makes-you/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Explore all 1,157 Ambrose Bierce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. 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