--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I once knew a man who stole a Ferris…" description: "\"I once knew a man who stole a Ferris Wheel...\" — Dashiell Hammett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6c/dashiell-hammett-3863_ferris-wheel_i-once-knew-a-man-who-stole-a-ferris-whe_2672516.png" --- # I once knew a man who stole a Ferris Wheel... ![“I once knew a man who stole a Ferris Wheel...” quote by Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6c/dashiell-hammett-3863_ferris-wheel_i-once-knew-a-man-who-stole-a-ferris-whe_2672516.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6c/dashiell-hammett-3863_ferris-wheel_i-once-knew-a-man-who-stole-a-ferris-whe_2672516.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6c/dashiell-hammett-3863_ferris-wheel_i-once-knew-a-man-who-stole-a-ferris-whe_2672516.png) > “I once knew a man who stole a Ferris Wheel...” [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A man who steals a Ferris wheel symbolizes absurd or grand theft, highlighting unexpected boldness. **In simple terms:** A ludicrous theft of a large amusement ride. Key Takeaway Consider the absurdity of extreme actions. Themes humor absurdity crime Mood playful thought‑provoking Type literary satirical When to use this quote - storytelling - creative writing - satire - social commentary - imaginative scenarios Key Concepts symbolic theft unexpected boldness Questions to Reflect On - What could a Ferris wheel represent? - Why choose such a grand object for theft? A Different Perspective The story may be metaphorical, not literal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ferris wheel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ferris-wheel/) [Ferris wheels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ferris-wheels/) [Knew Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knew-man/) [Man Stole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-stole-269166/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Stole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stole/) [Stole Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stole-ferris-2514923/) [Thief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thief/) [Wheels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wheels/) ## Related quotes > [“I know a man who once stole a Ferris-wheel”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/i-know-a-man-who-once-stole-a-ferris-wheel/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [Certainty a strange Ferris wheel of a statement!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-allen-paulos/certainty-a-strange-ferris-wheel-of-a-statement/) [John Allen Paulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-allen-paulos/) > [The first week of August hangs at the very top of summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/the-first-week-of-august-hangs-at-the-very-top-of-summer-the-top-of/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [They can't hurt me. Sure, they can crush you and kill you. They can lay you out on 42nd and Broadway and put hoses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/they-can-t-hurt-me-sure-they-can-crush-you-and-kill-you-they-can-lay/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [My family originally lived in Brooklyn. Our first apartment was a little place above my father and uncle's hardware store in Coney Island. Now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-gottfried/my-family-originally-lived-in-brooklyn-our-first-apartment-was-a/) [Gilbert Gottfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-gottfried/) > [Wandering around back stage at a willie Nelson concert is a bit like being the parrot on the shoulder of the guy who's running…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kinky-friedman/wandering-around-back-stage-at-a-willie-nelson-concert-is-a-bit-like/) [Kinky Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kinky-friedman/) > [The first lights of the evening were springing into pale existence. The Ferris wheel, pricked out now in lights, revolved leisurely through the dusk;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/the-first-lights-of-the-evening-were-springing-into-pale-existence/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [You never know how great a kiss can feel, when you're stopped at the top of a Ferris wheel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddy-cannon/you-never-know-how-great-a-kiss-can-feel-when-you-re-stopped-at-the/) [Freddy Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddy-cannon/) > [We're all carnies, though some people are in denial. They want to be above it all, above the mayhem of laughter and people and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/we-re-all-carnies-though-some-people-are-in-denial-they-want-to-be/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) > [I think a rotisserie is like a really morbid ferris wheel for chickens. It’s a strange piece of machinery . . . We will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-think-a-rotisserie-is-like-a-really-morbid-ferris-wheel-for/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [A Boat O beautiful was the werewolf in his evil forest. We took him to the carnival and he started crying when he saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brautigan/a-boat-o-beautiful-was-the-werewolf-in-his-evil-forest-we-took-him-to/) [Richard Brautigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brautigan/) > [It's always the guy who gets the diarrhea on the commercial at an inconvenient moment. As if you've ever been in a situation: 'You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jeni/it-s-always-the-guy-who-gets-the-diarrhea-on-the-commercial-at-an/) [Richard Jeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jeni/) > [A breeze blows through the alley, pushing me to one side, and I think of scaling the Ferris wheel with Tobias. He kept me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/a-breeze-blows-through-the-alley-pushing-me-to-one-side-and-i-think/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“When I was little, I didn't understand why ferris wheels existed. They were just sluggish and went up high. I got bored with it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chica-umino/when-i-was-little-i-didn-t-understand-why-ferris-wheels-existed-they/) [Chica Umino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chica-umino/) > [Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels The dizzy dancing way you feel As every fairy tale comes real I've looked at love that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/moons-and-junes-and-ferris-wheels-the-dizzy-dancing-way-you-feel-as/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) ## More by Dashiell Hammett > [It's sometimes better to pretend I don't hear the sound of somebody in the nearby woods with a shotgun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/it-s-sometimes-better-to-pretend-i-don-t-hear-the-sound-of-somebody/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [“This damned burg's getting me. If I don't get away soon I'll be going blood-simple like the natives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/this-damned-burg-s-getting-me-if-i-don-t-get-away-soon-i-ll-be-going/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [“You know Quinn?" Macaulay asked me. "Ten minutes ago I was putting him to bed." Macaulay grinned. "I hope you keep his acquaintance like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/you-know-quinn-macaulay-asked-me-ten-minutes-ago-i-was-putting-him-to/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [“Gutman smiled benignly at him and said: “Well, Wilmer, I’m sorry indeed to lose you, and I want you to know that I couldn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/gutman-smiled-benignly-at-him-and-said-well-wilmer-i-m-sorry-indeed/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [“...I guess I can put two and two together." "Sometimes the answer's four," I said, "and sometimes it's twenty-two...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/i-guess-i-can-put-two-and-two-together-sometimes-the-answer-s-four-i/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [Nora: "How do you feel?" Nick: "Terrible. I must've gone to bed sober.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/nora-how-do-you-feel-nick-terrible-i-must-ve-gone-to-bed-sober/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [A lot of fancier yarns come from people trying to tell the truth. It’s not easy once you’re out of the habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/a-lot-of-fancier-yarns-come-from-people-trying-to-tell-the-truth-it-s/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [Three times I have been mistaken for a prohibition agent, but never had any trouble clearing myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/three-times-i-have-been-mistaken-for-a-prohibition-agent-but-never/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [Listen, Dundy, it's been a long time since I burst into tears because a policeman didn't like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/listen-dundy-it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-burst-into-tears-because-a/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [“...What do people think about my staying with Harrison with him chasing everything that's hot and hollow?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/what-do-people-think-about-my-staying-with-harrison-with-him-chasing/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [“Don't be so damned patronizing. Your performance so far has been a little less than dazzling." "I didn't mean no harm," I said and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/don-t-be-so-damned-patronizing-your-performance-so-far-has-been-a/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [...What disturbed him was the discovery that in sensibly ordering his affairs he had got out of step, and not into step, with Life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/what-disturbed-him-was-the-discovery-that-in-sensibly-ordering-his/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [I haven't any sort of plans for the future but I reckon things will work out in some manner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/i-haven-t-any-sort-of-plans-for-the-future-but-i-reckon-things-will/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [To get what he wanted, a man had to give other people what they wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/to-get-what-he-wanted-a-man-had-to-give-other-people-what-they-wanted/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [He felt like somebody had taken the lid off life and let him see the works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/he-felt-like-somebody-had-taken-the-lid-off-life-and-let-him-see-the/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) [Explore all 119 Dashiell Hammett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) ## More Ferris wheel quotes > [“ I KNEW IT WAS OVER when tonight you couldn't make the phone ring when you used to make the sun rise when trees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-gottlieb/i-knew-it-was-over-when-tonight-you-couldn-t-make-the-phone-ring-when/) [Daphne Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-gottlieb/) > [“They were the cars at the fair that were whirling around her; no, they were the planets, while the sun stood, burning and spinning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-lowry/they-were-the-cars-at-the-fair-that-were-whirling-around-her-no-they/) [Malcolm Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-lowry/) > [“The Ferris wheel came to a stop two seats down from the top. "I've been thinking about you a lot this past week," she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-addison-allen/the-ferris-wheel-came-to-a-stop-two-seats-down-from-the-top-i-ve-been/) [Sarah Addison Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-addison-allen/) > [“The ride is nearly at an end, the operator is helping the people below us off and then it’s our turn, and Travis breathes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-harper/the-ride-is-nearly-at-an-end-the-operator-is-helping-the-people-below/) [Emily Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-harper/) > [“She felt her life was like that of a passenger on one of those ferris wheel rides, but in this instance it had no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-reighard/she-felt-her-life-was-like-that-of-a-passenger-on-one-of-those-ferris/) [Carla Reighard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-reighard/) > [You never know how great a kiss can feel, when you're stopped at the top of a Ferris wheel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddy-cannon/you-never-know-how-great-a-kiss-can-feel-when-you-re-stopped-at-the/) [Freddy Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddy-cannon/) > [Life is like a ferris wheel, the one on top has a better view, but never forget that the ferris wheel turns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-like-a-ferris-wheel-the-one-on-top-has-a-better-view-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“rush of wind blew through my hair as we rode to the top of the Ferris wheel and then stopped, hovering”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissy-peebles/rush-of-wind-blew-through-my-hair-as-we-rode-to-the-top-of-the-ferris/) [Chrissy Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissy-peebles/) > [You know, hip hop is a big ferris wheel that goes around and you've just gotta be able to maintain yourself while it's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jadakiss/you-know-hip-hop-is-a-big-ferris-wheel-that-goes-around-and-you-ve/) [Jadakiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jadakiss/) > [“When I was little, I didn't understand why ferris wheels existed. They were just sluggish and went up high. I got bored with it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chica-umino/when-i-was-little-i-didn-t-understand-why-ferris-wheels-existed-they/) [Chica Umino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chica-umino/) > [A breeze blows through the alley, pushing me to one side, and I think of scaling the Ferris wheel with Tobias. He kept me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/a-breeze-blows-through-the-alley-pushing-me-to-one-side-and-i-think/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [It's always the guy who gets the diarrhea on the commercial at an inconvenient moment. As if you've ever been in a situation: 'You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jeni/it-s-always-the-guy-who-gets-the-diarrhea-on-the-commercial-at-an/) [Richard Jeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jeni/) > [A Boat O beautiful was the werewolf in his evil forest. We took him to the carnival and he started crying when he saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brautigan/a-boat-o-beautiful-was-the-werewolf-in-his-evil-forest-we-took-him-to/) [Richard Brautigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brautigan/) > [I think a rotisserie is like a really morbid ferris wheel for chickens. It’s a strange piece of machinery . . . We will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-think-a-rotisserie-is-like-a-really-morbid-ferris-wheel-for/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [We're all carnies, though some people are in denial. They want to be above it all, above the mayhem of laughter and people and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/we-re-all-carnies-though-some-people-are-in-denial-they-want-to-be/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) [Browse all 68 Ferris wheel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ferris-wheel/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I once knew a man who stole a Ferris Wheel...", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dashiell Hammett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/i-once-knew-a-man-who-stole-a-ferris-wheel/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ferris wheel" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/i-once-knew-a-man-who-stole-a-ferris-wheel/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6c/dashiell-hammett-3863_ferris-wheel_i-once-knew-a-man-who-stole-a-ferris-whe_2672516.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6c/dashiell-hammett-3863_ferris-wheel_i-once-knew-a-man-who-stole-a-ferris-whe_2672516.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6c/dashiell-hammett-3863_ferris-wheel_i-once-knew-a-man-who-stole-a-ferris-whe_2672516.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I once knew a man who stole a Ferris Wheel...” — Dashiell Hammett", "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": "Dashiell Hammett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I once knew a man who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/i-once-knew-a-man-who-stole-a-ferris-wheel/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/i-once-knew-a-man-who-stole-a-ferris-wheel/#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 } } ] } ```