--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Someone said, and rightfully, that…" description: "\"Someone said, and rightfully, that \"property is theft'.\" There's no way a man can stand and tell me that he owns an apple tree. I just don't believe yo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/george-carlin-155_apple-trees_someone-said-and-rightfully-that-propert_1908222.jpg" --- # Someone said, and rightfully, that "property is theft'."… ![“Someone said, and rightfully, that "property is theft'." There's no way a man can stand and tell me that he owns an apple tree. I just don't believe you. And so this pursuit of position and money and power, they are all wrapped up into one package that I think is crippling, debilitating and…” quote by George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/george-carlin-155_apple-trees_someone-said-and-rightfully-that-propert_1908222.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/george-carlin-155_apple-trees_someone-said-and-rightfully-that-propert_1908222.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/george-carlin-155_apple-trees_someone-said-and-rightfully-that-propert_1908222.jpg) > “Someone said, and rightfully, that "property is theft'." There's no way a man can stand and tell me that he owns an apple tree. I just don't believe you. And so this pursuit of position and money and power, they are all wrapped up into one package that I think is crippling, debilitating and limiting. And unfortunately, people get sucked into it and then they've got you on the treadmill. You know: ''You've got to have a good job'' and "You've got to have a good education'' - which is another word for indoctrination. We're never going to rise above these limitations we've placed on ourselves.” [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It critiques how society equates material success with worth, trapping people in endless competition and conformity. **In simple terms:** Material success is a trap that limits freedom. Key Takeaway Question societal definitions of success. Themes consumerism conformity social critique Mood critical thought‑provoking Type sociopolitical philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - education - financial decisions Key Concepts capitalism philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How can you define success on your own terms? - What steps can you take to avoid the treadmill? A Different Perspective It may overlook personal agency in breaking free from these norms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apples/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Good education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-education/) [Indoctrination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indoctrination/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Limitation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limitation/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Money and power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money-and-power/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property/) [Property Is Theft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property-is-theft/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/) [Rise above](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rise-above/) [Theft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theft/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/) ## Related quotes > [One philosopher has rightly said that property is theft. But I'd like to use my future ownership of property to give something back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/one-philosopher-has-rightly-said-that-property-is-theft-but-i-d-like/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Property is theft. Nobody "owns" anything. When you die, it all stays here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/property-is-theft-nobody-owns-anything-when-you-die-it-all-stays-here/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [All property is theft, except mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/all-property-is-theft-except-mine/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Give your goods to the poor: Christ. Property is theft - as long as it's not mine: Marx .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-goebbels/give-your-goods-to-the-poor-christ-property-is-theft-as-long-as-it-s/) [Joseph Goebbels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-goebbels/) > [Property is theft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/property-is-theft/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I understand why Barack Obama wants to send every kid to college, because of their indoctrination mills, absolutely … The indoctrination that is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/i-understand-why-barack-obama-wants-to-send-every-kid-to-college/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [Where there's property, there's theft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/where-there-s-property-there-s-theft/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [I wish to note that intellectual property theft by a government represents the very essence of organized crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-berman/i-wish-to-note-that-intellectual-property-theft-by-a-government/) [Howard Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-berman/) > [Some French socialist said that private property was theft... I say that private property is a nuisance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-erdos/some-french-socialist-said-that-private-property-was-theft-i-say-that/) [Paul Erdos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-erdos/) > [ “My generation has a giddy delight in dissolution. \[...\] To inspire the unsophisticated young to demand "change" is an easy and a cheap trick—… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/my-generation-has-a-giddy-delight-in-dissolution-to-inspire-the/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [“It was a little like stealing. It was exactly like stealing. It was, in fact, stealing. But there was no law against it because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-was-a-little-like-stealing-it-was-exactly-like-stealing-it-was-in/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“I wonder who this ship belongs to anyway," said Arthur. "Me," said Zaphod. "No. Who it really belongs to." "Really me," insisted Zaphod. "Look,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/i-wonder-who-this-ship-belongs-to-anyway-said-arthur-me-said-zaphod/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [One ideological claim is that private property is theft, that the natural product of the existence of property is evil, and that private ownership…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-patrick-moynihan/one-ideological-claim-is-that-private-property-is-theft-that-the/) [Daniel Patrick Moynihan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-patrick-moynihan/) > [At times some people use force or fraud to take from others without willful, voluntary consent. Normally, the initiation of force to take life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-schoolland/at-times-some-people-use-force-or-fraud-to-take-from-others-without/) [Ken Schoolland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-schoolland/) > [Fortunately, like most children, I had learned what is most valuable, most indispensable for life before school years began, taught by apple trees, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/fortunately-like-most-children-i-had-learned-what-is-most-valuable/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) ## More by George Carlin > [I never go anywhere or do anything that transports me outside the boundaries of my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-never-go-anywhere-or-do-anything-that-transports-me-outside-the/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [With the proper training, I could've been an evil genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/with-the-proper-training-i-could-ve-been-an-evil-genius/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Comedy, although it is not one of the fine arts - it's a vulgar art, it's one of the people's arts, it's the spoken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/comedy-although-it-is-not-one-of-the-fine-arts-it-s-a-vulgar-art-it-s/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. ... These two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-m-completely-in-favor-of-the-separation-of-church-and-state-these/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY. Not true. Today is another day. We have no idea what tomorrow is going to be. It might turn out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/tomorrow-is-another-day-not-true-today-is-another-day-we-have-no-idea/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [I was a loner as a child. I had an imaginary friend - I didn't bother with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-was-a-loner-as-a-child-i-had-an-imaginary-friend-i-didn-t-bother/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Kilometers are shorter than miles. Save gas, take your next trip in kilometers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/kilometers-are-shorter-than-miles-save-gas-take-your-next-trip-in/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“If you guys want to get a MOM tattoo and save a little money, just get two letters done. Get about a one-inch capital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/if-you-guys-want-to-get-a-mom-tattoo-and-save-a-little-money-just-get/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/you-ve-built-up-so-much-speed-that-you-hit-70-after-that-it-s-a-day/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [It ended suddenly for Brenda, more slowly for me. My runs began getting shorter and less pleasurable. I'd feel bad after only one day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/it-ended-suddenly-for-brenda-more-slowly-for-me-my-runs-began-getting/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Is there another word for synonym?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/is-there-another-word-for-synonym/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [The whole idea of the pursuit of goods and possessions has completely corrupted the human experience, along with religion, which I think limits the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/the-whole-idea-of-the-pursuit-of-goods-and-possessions-has-completely/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [These days many politicians are demanding change. Just like homeless people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/these-days-many-politicians-are-demanding-change-just-like-homeless/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [You know the good part about all those executions in Texas? Fewer Texans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/you-know-the-good-part-about-all-those-executions-in-texas-fewer/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [What was the best thing before sliced bread?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/what-was-the-best-thing-before-sliced-bread/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) [Explore all 1,098 George Carlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) ## More Apple trees quotes > [Fortunately, like most children, I had learned what is most valuable, most indispensable for life before school years began, taught by apple trees, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/fortunately-like-most-children-i-had-learned-what-is-most-valuable/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [A comely sight indeed it is to see, a world of blossoms on an apple tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/a-comely-sight-indeed-it-is-to-see-a-world-of-blossoms-on-an-apple/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [My heart is like a singing bird Whose nest is in a water'd shoot; My heart is like an apple-tree Whose boughs are bent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-rossetti/my-heart-is-like-a-singing-bird-whose-nest-is-in-a-water-d-shoot-my/) [Christina Rossetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-rossetti/) > [Therefore all seasons shall be sweet to thee, Whether the summer clothe the general earth With greenness, or the redbreast sit and sing Betwixt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/therefore-all-seasons-shall-be-sweet-to-thee-whether-the-summer/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Jacob wrote that the true poet 'is like a man who is happy anywhere, in endless measure, if he is allowed to look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/jacob-wrote-that-the-true-poet-is-like-a-man-who-is-happy-anywhere-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [She had learned, in her life, that time lived inside you. You are time, you breathe time. When she'd been young, she'd had an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wroblewski/she-had-learned-in-her-life-that-time-lived-inside-you-you-are-time/) [David Wroblewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wroblewski/) > [The farther north you go, the fewer fruits and vegetables there are. What kind of apple trees do you suggest the Inuit get their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/the-farther-north-you-go-the-fewer-fruits-and-vegetables-there-are/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [The apple tree never asks the beech how he shall grow, nor the lion, the horse, how he shall take his prey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/the-apple-tree-never-asks-the-beech-how-he-shall-grow-nor-the-lion/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [A charitable man is like an apple tree-he gives his fruit and is silent; the philanthropist is like the successful hen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/a-charitable-man-is-like-an-apple-tree-he-gives-his-fruit-and-is/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [You have to love. You have to feel. It is the reason you are here on earth. You are here to risk your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/you-have-to-love-you-have-to-feel-it-is-the-reason-you-are-here-on/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [Life rises out of death, death rises out of life; in being opposite they yearn to each other, they give birth to each other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/life-rises-out-of-death-death-rises-out-of-life-in-being-opposite/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [Martin Luther was asked, what would you do if tomorrow the world would come to an end, and he said, 'I would plant an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/martin-luther-was-asked-what-would-you-do-if-tomorrow-the-world-would/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [I require silence to write the way an apple tree requires winter to make fruit. Being with people is intimate and joyous, but at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hirshfield/i-require-silence-to-write-the-way-an-apple-tree-requires-winter-to/) [Jane Hirshfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hirshfield/) > [“My troubles are all over, and I am at home; and often before I am quite awake, I fancy I am still in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-sewell/my-troubles-are-all-over-and-i-am-at-home-and-often-before-i-am-quite/) [Anna Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-sewell/) > [This apple tree is not the first one I draw, but perhaps the thousandth. I feel the sap rise to its spreading branches. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-franck/this-apple-tree-is-not-the-first-one-i-draw-but-perhaps-the/) [Frederick Franck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-franck/) Browse all 62 Apple trees quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Someone said, and rightfully, that \"property is theft'.\" There's no way a man can stand and tell me that he owns an apple tree. I just don't believe you. And so this pursuit of position and money and power, they are all wrapped up into one package that I think is crippling, debilitating and limiting. And unfortunately, people get sucked into it and then they've got you on the treadmill. You know: ''You've got to have a good job'' and \"You've got to have a good education'' - which is another word for indoctrination. We're never going to rise above these limitations we've placed on ourselves.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Carlin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/someone-said-and-rightfully-that-property-is-theft-there-s-no-way-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Apple trees" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/someone-said-and-rightfully-that-property-is-theft-there-s-no-way-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/george-carlin-155_apple-trees_someone-said-and-rightfully-that-propert_1908222.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/george-carlin-155_apple-trees_someone-said-and-rightfully-that-propert_1908222.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/george-carlin-155_apple-trees_someone-said-and-rightfully-that-propert_1908222.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Someone said, and rightfully, that \"property is theft'.\" There's no way a man can stand and tell me that he…” — George Carlin", "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": "George Carlin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Someone said, and rightfully, that \"property...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/someone-said-and-rightfully-that-property-is-theft-there-s-no-way-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/someone-said-and-rightfully-that-property-is-theft-there-s-no-way-a/#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 } } ] } ```