--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He who holds the ladder is as bad as the…" description: "\"He who holds the ladder is as bad as the thief\" — German Proverb" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/german-proverb-11849_theft_he-who-holds-the-ladder-is-as-bad-as-the_1182996.jpg" --- # He who holds the ladder is as bad as the thief ![“He who holds the ladder is as bad as the thief” quote by German Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/german-proverb-11849_theft_he-who-holds-the-ladder-is-as-bad-as-the_1182996.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/german-proverb-11849_theft_he-who-holds-the-ladder-is-as-bad-as-the_1182996.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/german-proverb-11849_theft_he-who-holds-the-ladder-is-as-bad-as-the_1182996.jpg) > “He who holds the ladder is as bad as the thief” German Proverb ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Holding the ladder (power) is as immoral as stealing; misuse of authority is equivalent to theft. **In simple terms:** Abusing power is as wrong as theft. Key Takeaway Treat authority with humility and responsibility. Themes ethics power justice morality Mood thoughtful cautionary Type moral philosophical When to use this quote - Leadership - law enforcement - community governance Key Concepts Political theory social contract virtue ethics Questions to Reflect On - How do you check your own authority? - What safeguards prevent abuse of power? A Different Perspective Power can corrupt just as theft does. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ladder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ladder/) [Theft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theft/) [Thief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thief/) ## Related quotes > [The man who holds the ladder at the bottom is frequently of more service than the man at the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/the-man-who-holds-the-ladder-at-the-bottom-is-frequently-of-more/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [In the case of scandal, as in that of robbery, the receiver is always thought as bad as the thief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/in-the-case-of-scandal-as-in-that-of-robbery-the-receiver-is-always/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [“Theft is a fundamental of devilry, beach rat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-litt/theft-is-a-fundamental-of-devilry-beach-rat/) Ray Litt > [Stolen scrap like manhole covers, railroad weights, stop signs, guard rails, and public lighting put our residents in grave danger. Not only that, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-tlaib/stolen-scrap-like-manhole-covers-railroad-weights-stop-signs-guard/) [Rashida Tlaib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-tlaib/) > [“A man who will steal for me will steal from me." Theodore Roosevelt, dismissing on the spot one of his best cowhands who was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mccullough/a-man-who-will-steal-for-me-will-steal-from-me-theodore-roosevelt/) David G. McCullough > [It's not the goods that matter. It's the theft itself. That's what counts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-wykes/it-s-not-the-goods-that-matter-it-s-the-theft-itself-that-s-what/) [Walter Wykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-wykes/) > [It's no crime to steal from a thief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/it-s-no-crime-to-steal-from-a-thief/) Proverb > [“Has there been anyone who committed theft that he might further the interests of his villagers?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/has-there-been-anyone-who-committed-theft-that-he-might-further-the/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [“The ring which you are holding, my friend, is identical to that one. I had it cut according to the model of the king's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-lorrain/the-ring-which-you-are-holding-my-friend-is-identical-to-that-one-i/) [Jean Lorrain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-lorrain/) > [Property is theft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/property-is-theft/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Fear is a thief because fear robs you before you even begin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fear-is-a-thief-because-fear-robs-you-before-you-even-begin/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [Every true man's apparel fits your thief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/every-true-man-s-apparel-fits-your-thief/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“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 > [The difference between theft and destruction is often a few keystrokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-alperovitch/the-difference-between-theft-and-destruction-is-often-a-few-keystrokes/) [Dmitri Alperovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-alperovitch/) > [Your thief looks Exactly like the rest, or rather better; 'Tis only at the bar, and in the dungeon, That wise men know your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/your-thief-looks-exactly-like-the-rest-or-rather-better-tis-only-at/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) ## More by German Proverb > [One does evil enough when one does nothing good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/german-proverb/one-does-evil-enough-when-one-does-nothing-good/) German Proverb > [Dogs that bark dont bite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/german-proverb/dogs-that-bark-dont-bite/) German Proverb > [Lies have short legs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/german-proverb/lies-have-short-legs/) German Proverb > [“There is no off switch on a tiger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/german-proverb/there-is-no-off-switch-on-a-tiger/) German Proverb > [Too much luck is bad luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/german-proverb/too-much-luck-is-bad-luck/) German Proverb > [After Christmas comes Lent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/german-proverb/after-christmas-comes-lent/) German Proverb > [Envy eats nothing but its own heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/german-proverb/envy-eats-nothing-but-its-own-heart/) German Proverb > [He who borrows sells his freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/german-proverb/he-who-borrows-sells-his-freedom/) German Proverb > [Necessity teaches all things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/german-proverb/necessity-teaches-all-things/) German Proverb > [Beauty is a good letter of introduction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/german-proverb/beauty-is-a-good-letter-of-introduction/) German Proverb > [A good book praises itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/german-proverb/a-good-book-praises-itself/) German Proverb > [The only real equality is in the cemetery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/german-proverb/the-only-real-equality-is-in-the-cemetery/) German Proverb > [“Look before you leap, for snakes among sweet flowers do creep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/german-proverb/look-before-you-leap-for-snakes-among-sweet-flowers-do-creep/) German Proverb > [Money lent to a friend must be recovered from an enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/german-proverb/money-lent-to-a-friend-must-be-recovered-from-an-enemy/) German Proverb > [Charity sees the need, not the cause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/german-proverb/charity-sees-the-need-not-the-cause/) German Proverb Explore all 57 German Proverb quotes ## More Ladder quotes > [It's sort of the American way to go up and down the ladder, maybe several times in a lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stewart/it-s-sort-of-the-american-way-to-go-up-and-down-the-ladder-maybe/) [Martha Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stewart/) > [The elevator to success is out of order. You'll have to use the stairs... one step at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-girard/the-elevator-to-success-is-out-of-order-you-ll-have-to-use-the-stairs/) [Joe Girard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-girard/) > [Normally, it's more efficient to climb fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ondra/normally-it-s-more-efficient-to-climb-fast/) [Adam Ondra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ondra/) > [Put plainly, China seems determined to steal its way up the economic ladder, at our expense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/put-plainly-china-seems-determined-to-steal-its-way-up-the-economic/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [You cannot get to the top by sitting on your bottom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-cannot-get-to-the-top-by-sitting-on-your-bottom/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In order for us to reach success, we must first find, the ladder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-hensel/in-order-for-us-to-reach-success-we-must-first-find-the-ladder/) [Robert M. Hensel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-hensel/) > [I'm a little bit superstitious, and I think that just comes from playing hockey. I won't avoid the number thirteen. A big one for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-badge-dale/i-m-a-little-bit-superstitious-and-i-think-that-just-comes-from/) [James Badge Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-badge-dale/) > [The only way you can stay on top is to remember to touch bottom and get back to basics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-black/the-only-way-you-can-stay-on-top-is-to-remember-to-touch-bottom-and/) [Shane Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-black/) > [“I got waylaid by another of your throng of supporters and well-wishers so you only have yourself to blame.” “So I heard,” he said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-kauffman/i-got-waylaid-by-another-of-your-throng-of-supporters-and-well/) [Donna Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-kauffman/) > [For to keep at the top is harder almost than to get there](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gibbons/for-to-keep-at-the-top-is-harder-almost-than-to-get-there/) [James Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gibbons/) > [One thing I would like to see is a stronger ladder series for up-and-coming American drivers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-andretti/one-thing-i-would-like-to-see-is-a-stronger-ladder-series-for-up-and/) [Michael Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-andretti/) > [I was one of the innovators of the TLC Match; some would arguably say that I am the master of the Ladder Match.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edge/i-was-one-of-the-innovators-of-the-tlc-match-some-would-arguably-say/) [Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edge/) > [What signifies the ladder, provided one rise and attain the end?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/what-signifies-the-ladder-provided-one-rise-and-attain-the-end/) [Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/) > [Unlike the Obama Cabinet, the Trump Cabinet is not comprised of do-nothing bureaucrats, who worked their way up the twisted, scheme-ridden Washington ladder; rather,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/unlike-the-obama-cabinet-the-trump-cabinet-is-not-comprised-of-do/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [“Don't be afraid to start at the bottom of the ladder. And have the courage to climb to the top.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levi-hr-rosenthal/don-t-be-afraid-to-start-at-the-bottom-of-the-ladder-and-have-the/) Levi HR Rosenthal [Browse all 554 Ladder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ladder/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He who holds the ladder is as bad as the thief", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "German Proverb" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/german-proverb/he-who-holds-the-ladder-is-as-bad-as-the-thief/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ladder" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/german-proverb/he-who-holds-the-ladder-is-as-bad-as-the-thief/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/german-proverb-11849_theft_he-who-holds-the-ladder-is-as-bad-as-the_1182996.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/german-proverb-11849_theft_he-who-holds-the-ladder-is-as-bad-as-the_1182996.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/german-proverb-11849_theft_he-who-holds-the-ladder-is-as-bad-as-the_1182996.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He who holds the ladder is as bad as the thief” — German Proverb", "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": "German Proverb", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/german-proverb/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "He who holds the ladder is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/german-proverb/he-who-holds-the-ladder-is-as-bad-as-the-thief/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/german-proverb/he-who-holds-the-ladder-is-as-bad-as-the-thief/#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 } } ] } ```