--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pick-a-lock, Pick-a-lock, you'll regret…" description: "\"Pick-a-lock, Pick-a-lock, you'll regret the day, When you took a mouse thief and locked him away, Silly cat, look at that, it's two for one, A thief an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/brian-jacques-4933_cat_pick-a-lock-pick-a-lock-you-ll-regret-th_1875176.jpg" --- # Pick-a-lock, Pick-a-lock, you'll regret the day, When you… ![“Pick-a-lock, Pick-a-lock, you'll regret the day, When you took a mouse thief and locked him away, Silly cat, look at that, it's two for one, A thief and a warrior, by dawn will be gone.” quote by Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/brian-jacques-4933_cat_pick-a-lock-pick-a-lock-you-ll-regret-th_1875176.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/brian-jacques-4933_cat_pick-a-lock-pick-a-lock-you-ll-regret-th_1875176.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/brian-jacques-4933_cat_pick-a-lock-pick-a-lock-you-ll-regret-th_1875176.jpg) > “Pick-a-lock, Pick-a-lock, you'll regret the day, When you took a mouse thief and locked him away, Silly cat, look at that, it's two for one, A thief and a warrior, by dawn will be gone.” [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The verse warns that taking revenge or punishing a minor offender can lead to greater trouble, as the act may unleash larger threats. **In simple terms:** Punishment can cause bigger problems. Key Takeaway Think before you act against small wrongs. Themes justice consequences revenge responsibility Mood cautionary reflective Type advice moralistic When to use this quote - personal conflicts - legal decisions - workplace discipline - community safety Key Concepts cause and effect escalation oral lesson Questions to Reflect On - What larger issues could arise from a small punitive act? - Is retaliation always the best response? A Different Perspective It may overlook the root cause, focusing only on the symptom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat/) [Dawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dawn/) [Gone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gone/) [Locks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/locks/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Mice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mice/) [Mouse Thief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mouse-thief-2613600/) [Pick Lock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pick-lock-632263/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Regret Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret-day-849353/) [Silly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silly/) [Thief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thief/) [Thief Locked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thief-locked-2613601/) [Thieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thieves/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Warrior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warrior/) ## Related quotes > [How would you know? Everything’s like sex. It’s the universal metaphor. To pick a lock, let me guess, you have to go slow at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/how-would-you-know-everything-s-like-sex-it-s-the-universal-metaphor/) [Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/) > [“Do you have anything to pick a lock?” She asked desperately. “Always.” I slid one of the three bobby-pins I always kept with me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-bode/do-you-have-anything-to-pick-a-lock-she-asked-desperately-always-i/) [Maya Bode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-bode/) > [If hard work is the key to success, most people would rather pick the lock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-maxwell-macdonald/if-hard-work-is-the-key-to-success-most-people-would-rather-pick-the/) [Claude Maxwell MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-maxwell-macdonald/) > [I can pick a lock. How do you think I got into my parents' liquor cabinet in middle school?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/i-can-pick-a-lock-how-do-you-think-i-got-into-my-parents-liquor/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [Do you know how to pick a lock?" "Not in the least, I'm afraid." "I often wonder what we go to school for," said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/do-you-know-how-to-pick-a-lock-not-in-the-least-i-m-afraid-i-often/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [If you cant find the key to success, pick the lock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-morgan/if-you-cant-find-the-key-to-success-pick-the-lock/) [Harriet Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-morgan/) > [“Honey, I was a Detective with Homicide for ten years and before that I boosted cars for a living. Trust me, I not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-d-angelo/honey-i-was-a-detective-with-homicide-for-ten-years-and-before-that-i/) [Nina D'Angelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-d-angelo/) > [“six is old enough to know how to pick a lock, but not old enough to know that you don’t want to be picking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-wray-gregoire/six-is-old-enough-to-know-how-to-pick-a-lock-but-not-old-enough-to/) [Sheila Wray Gregoire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-wray-gregoire/) > [If you can't find the key to success, pick the lock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie/if-you-can-t-find-the-key-to-success-pick-the-lock/) [Richie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie/) > [I highly regret this day in advance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-mcmann/i-highly-regret-this-day-in-advance/) [Lisa McMann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-mcmann/) > [Every gulp of air that goes out in a cause other than the cause of Allah will turn to sorrow and regret on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-qayyim-al-jawziyya/every-gulp-of-air-that-goes-out-in-a-cause-other-than-the-cause-of/) [Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-qayyim-al-jawziyya/) > [“Live Everyday with No Regrets, So you don't Regret it One day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samer-chidiac/live-everyday-with-no-regrets-so-you-don-t-regret-it-one-day/) [Samer Chidiac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samer-chidiac/) > [I never regret the day I met you, because it was the day I loved you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daudi-blilingi/i-never-regret-the-day-i-met-you-because-it-was-the-day-i-loved-you/) [Daudi Blilingi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daudi-blilingi/) > [You must regret the day that you left me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letoya-luckett/you-must-regret-the-day-that-you-left-me/) [Letoya Luckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letoya-luckett/) > [I loathed every day and regret every day I spent in school. I like to be taught to read and write and add and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-loathed-every-day-and-regret-every-day-i-spent-in-school-i-like-to/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) ## More by Brian Jacques > [Food to eat and games to play. Tell me why, tell me why. Serve it out and eat it up. Have a try, have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/food-to-eat-and-games-to-play-tell-me-why-tell-me-why-serve-it-out/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [So here is my story, may it bring Some smiles and a tear or so, It happened once upon a time, Far away, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/so-here-is-my-story-may-it-bring-some-smiles-and-a-tear-or-so-it/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [Any weapon is a good weapon as long as ye can use it with honor and skill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/any-weapon-is-a-good-weapon-as-long-as-ye-can-use-it-with-honor-and/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [You love young ones and babes, I know this. The young will always befriend and admire you...all the young ones of the earth belong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/you-love-young-ones-and-babes-i-know-this-the-young-will-always/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [Are you going to go down on your knees and beg for your life, old one?" Abbot Mortimer stared calmly into Cluny's savage eye.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/are-you-going-to-go-down-on-your-knees-and-beg-for-your-life-old-one/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [I wanted to write something visual that I could read to the children. This was when I created the idea of Redwall Abbey in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/i-wanted-to-write-something-visual-that-i-could-read-to-the-children/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [“Go find someone who will care for ye good, to sit quiet by yore side at the fire, an' if he treats ye decent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/go-find-someone-who-will-care-for-ye-good-to-sit-quiet-by-yore-side/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [“Even the strongest and bravest must sometimes weep. It shows they have a great heart, one that can feel compassion for others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/even-the-strongest-and-bravest-must-sometimes-weep-it-shows-they-have/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [Fate is fickle, and the company of unwilling friends short lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/fate-is-fickle-and-the-company-of-unwilling-friends-short-lived/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [“Peace has gone on too long. Something inside me says that trouble such as these shores have never known is headed our way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/peace-has-gone-on-too-long-something-inside-me-says-that-trouble-such/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [“Err, sorry Father Abbot. I tripped y'see. Trod on my Abbot, Father Habit. Oh dear, I mean…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/err-sorry-father-abbot-i-tripped-y-see-trod-on-my-abbot-father-habit/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [Basil Stag Hare tut-tutted severely as he remarked to Ambrose Spike, 'Tch, tch. Dreadful table manners. Just look at those three wallahs, kicking up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/basil-stag-hare-tut-tutted-severely-as-he-remarked-to-ambrose-spike/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [“Capital," cried Basil. "I could eat a stag, antlers and all. I say they they do make a wonderful nosebag for us wounded heroes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/capital-cried-basil-i-could-eat-a-stag-antlers-and-all-i-say-they/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [Sometimes friends do go from us-it will happen more and more as you grow up, Chugg. But if you really love your friends, they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/sometimes-friends-do-go-from-us-it-will-happen-more-and-more-as-you/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [Armel shrugged. "I suppose so, Brother, but why do creatures have to fight?" Demple picked Mudge up and placed him on his shoulder. "Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/armel-shrugged-i-suppose-so-brother-but-why-do-creatures-have-to/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) [Explore all 101 Brian Jacques quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) ## More Cat quotes > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [One reason why my memory decays is that I have three cats, all so loving and insistent that they play cat's-cradle with every train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/one-reason-why-my-memory-decays-is-that-i-have-three-cats-all-so/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [It's an interesting fact that fewer than 17 % of Real cats end their lives with the same name they started with. Much family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-an-interesting-fact-that-fewer-than-17-of-real-cats-end-their/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The dog is guided by kindly instinct to the man or woman whose heart is open to his advances. The cat often leaves the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/the-dog-is-guided-by-kindly-instinct-to-the-man-or-woman-whose-heart/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [If you ask me to tell you anything about the nature of what lies beyond the phaneron… my answer is “How should I know?”……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gardner/if-you-ask-me-to-tell-you-anything-about-the-nature-of-what-lies/) [Martin Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gardner/) > [Is man no more than this? Consider him well. Thou ow'st the worm no silk, the beast no hide, the sheep no wool, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/is-man-no-more-than-this-consider-him-well-thou-ow-st-the-worm-no/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [One cat just leads to another. The place is so damned big it doesn't really seem as though there were many cats until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/one-cat-just-leads-to-another-the-place-is-so-damned-big-it-doesn-t/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [In the olden days in England, you could be hung for stealing a sheep or a loaf of bread. However, if a sheep stole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-harding/in-the-olden-days-in-england-you-could-be-hung-for-stealing-a-sheep/) [Mike Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-harding/) > [Kittens can happen to anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gallico/kittens-can-happen-to-anyone/) [Paul Gallico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gallico/) > [I think if you keep the box closed long enough you do kill the cat, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-think-if-you-keep-the-box-closed-long-enough-you-do-kill-the-cat/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“All right, you deadly little ghostlings,” I muttered. “Mama says go back to bed! - Cat”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/all-right-you-deadly-little-ghostlings-i-muttered-mama-says-go-back/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Man wishes woman to be peaceable, but in fact she is essentially warlike, like the cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/man-wishes-woman-to-be-peaceable-but-in-fact-she-is-essentially/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [There are videos I used to take at home, pretending to be a newscaster, interviewing the teapot or my house cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-wagner/there-are-videos-i-used-to-take-at-home-pretending-to-be-a-newscaster/) [Alex Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-wagner/) [Browse all 2,996 Cat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Pick-a-lock, Pick-a-lock, you'll regret the day, When you took a mouse thief and locked him away, Silly cat, look at that, it's two for one, A thief and a warrior, by dawn will be gone.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brian Jacques" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/pick-a-lock-pick-a-lock-you-ll-regret-the-day-when-you-took-a-mouse/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cat" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/pick-a-lock-pick-a-lock-you-ll-regret-the-day-when-you-took-a-mouse/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/brian-jacques-4933_cat_pick-a-lock-pick-a-lock-you-ll-regret-th_1875176.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/brian-jacques-4933_cat_pick-a-lock-pick-a-lock-you-ll-regret-th_1875176.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/brian-jacques-4933_cat_pick-a-lock-pick-a-lock-you-ll-regret-th_1875176.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Pick-a-lock, Pick-a-lock, you'll regret the day, When you took a mouse thief and locked him away, Silly cat…” — Brian Jacques", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Brian Jacques", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Pick-a-lock, Pick-a-lock, you'll regret the day,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/pick-a-lock-pick-a-lock-you-ll-regret-the-day-when-you-took-a-mouse/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/pick-a-lock-pick-a-lock-you-ll-regret-the-day-when-you-took-a-mouse/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```