--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Cheating is a sin, but honest cunning is…" description: "\"Cheating is a sin, but honest cunning is simply prudence. It is a virtue. To be sure, it has a likeness to roguery, but that cannot be helped. He who h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/715/giacomo-casanova-4227_cheating_cheating-is-a-sin-but-honest-cunning-is_2094810.jpg" --- # Cheating is a sin, but honest cunning is simply prudence… ![“Cheating is a sin, but honest cunning is simply prudence. It is a virtue. To be sure, it has a likeness to roguery, but that cannot be helped. He who has not learned to practice it is a fool.” quote by Giacomo Casanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/715/giacomo-casanova-4227_cheating_cheating-is-a-sin-but-honest-cunning-is_2094810.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/715/giacomo-casanova-4227_cheating_cheating-is-a-sin-but-honest-cunning-is_2094810.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/715/giacomo-casanova-4227_cheating_cheating-is-a-sin-but-honest-cunning-is_2094810.jpg) > “Cheating is a sin, but honest cunning is simply prudence. It is a virtue. To be sure, it has a likeness to roguery, but that cannot be helped. He who has not learned to practice it is a fool.” [Giacomo Casanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-casanova/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cunning, when honest, is a prudent virtue akin to roguery but necessary for success. **In simple terms:** Honest cleverness is a useful skill. Key Takeaway Use cleverness wisely. Themes ethics strategy pragmatism Mood cautious analytical Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - business negotiations - political maneuvering - personal problem solving Key Concepts philosophy morality virtue Questions to Reflect On - When is cleverness ethical? - What risks accompany strategic deceit? A Different Perspective Cunning can erode trust if misused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cheating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheating/) [Cheating Is A Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheating-is-a-sin-219354/) [Cheating Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheating-sin-835210/) [Cunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cunning/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Honest Cunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-cunning-4157478/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Prudence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prudence/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Sin Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin-honest-1967484/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [They's no two ways about it, whether you are caught or not-cheating is a sin before Gods eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theophilus-lukonde-jr/they-s-no-two-ways-about-it-whether-you-are-caught-or-not-cheating-is/) [Theophilus Lukonde Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theophilus-lukonde-jr/) > [Animals do not betray; they do not exploit; they do not oppress; they do not enslave; they do not sin. They have their being,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-caldwell/animals-do-not-betray-they-do-not-exploit-they-do-not-oppress-they-do/) [Taylor Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-caldwell/) > [The bounds of a man's knowledge are easily concealed, if he has but prudence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-bounds-of-a-man-s-knowledge-are-easily-concealed-if-he-has-but/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Do you come to a philosopher as to a cunning man, to learn something by magic or witchcraft, beyond what can be known by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/do-you-come-to-a-philosopher-as-to-a-cunning-man-to-learn-something/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [Cunning is none of the best nor worst qualities; it floats between virtue and vice; there is scarce any exigence where it may not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/cunning-is-none-of-the-best-nor-worst-qualities-it-floats-between/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [“The prudent man always studies seriously and earnestly to understand whatever he professes to understand, and not merely to persuade other people that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-prudent-man-always-studies-seriously-and-earnestly-to-understand/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [Truth, but not the whole truth, must be the invariable principle of every man who hath either religion, honour, or prudence. Thosewho violate it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/truth-but-not-the-whole-truth-must-be-the-invariable-principle-of/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Since, though I do not repent my amorous exploits, I am far from wanting my example to contribute to the corruption of the fair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-casanova/since-though-i-do-not-repent-my-amorous-exploits-i-am-far-from/) [Giacomo Casanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-casanova/) > [Art is the final cunning of the human soul which would rather do anything than face the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/art-is-the-final-cunning-of-the-human-soul-which-would-rather-do/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [Why do some die and some live? The answer was clearly, that on the whole the best fitted live. From the effects of disease…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-russel-wallace/why-do-some-die-and-some-live-the-answer-was-clearly-that-on-the/) [Alfred Russel Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-russel-wallace/) > [That humanity and sincerity which dispose men to resist injustice and tyranny render them unfit to cope with the cunning and power of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-humanity-and-sincerity-which-dispose-men-to-resist-injustice-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The terrible immoralities are the cunning ones hiding behind masks of morality, such as exploiting people while pretending to help them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-howard/the-terrible-immoralities-are-the-cunning-ones-hiding-behind-masks-of/) [Vernon Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-howard/) > [It is a pity that, commonly, more care is had--yea, and that among very wise men--to find out rather a cunning man for their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ascham/it-is-a-pity-that-commonly-more-care-is-had-yea-and-that-among-very/) [Roger Ascham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ascham/) > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [Charm is a cunning self-forgetfulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-stead/charm-is-a-cunning-self-forgetfulness/) [Christina Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-stead/) ## More by Giacomo Casanova > [If you have not done things worthy of being written about, at least write things worthy of being read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-casanova/if-you-have-not-done-things-worthy-of-being-written-about-at-least/) [Giacomo Casanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-casanova/) > [I have often met with happiness after some imprudent step which ought to have brought ruin upon me, and although passing a vote of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-casanova/i-have-often-met-with-happiness-after-some-imprudent-step-which-ought/) [Giacomo Casanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-casanova/) > [Thence, I suppose, my natural disposition to make fresh acquaintances, and to break with them so readily, although always for a good reason, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-casanova/thence-i-suppose-my-natural-disposition-to-make-fresh-acquaintances/) [Giacomo Casanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-casanova/) > [“faith must believe without discussion, and the stronger it is, the more it keeps silent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-casanova/faith-must-believe-without-discussion-and-the-stronger-it-is-the-more/) [Giacomo Casanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-casanova/) > [“Oh, cruel ennui! It must be by mistake that those who have invented the torments of hell have forgotten to ascribe thee the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-casanova/oh-cruel-ennui-it-must-be-by-mistake-that-those-who-have-invented-the/) [Giacomo Casanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-casanova/) > [Heart and head are the constituent parts of character; temperament has almost nothing to do with it, and, therefore, character is dependent upon education,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-casanova/heart-and-head-are-the-constituent-parts-of-character-temperament-has/) [Giacomo Casanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-casanova/) > [Man is free; yet we must not suppose that he is at liberty to do everything he pleases, for he becomes a slave the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-casanova/man-is-free-yet-we-must-not-suppose-that-he-is-at-liberty-to-do/) [Giacomo Casanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-casanova/) > [To Kiss : An attempt to absorb the essence of the other person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-casanova/to-kiss-an-attempt-to-absorb-the-essence-of-the-other-person/) [Giacomo Casanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-casanova/) > [ Man is free; but not unless he believes he is\[.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-casanova/man-is-free-but-not-unless-he-believes-he-is/) [Giacomo Casanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-casanova/) > [Real love is the love that sometimes arises after sensual pleasure: if it does, it is immortal; the other kind inevitably goes stale, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-casanova/real-love-is-the-love-that-sometimes-arises-after-sensual-pleasure-if/) [Giacomo Casanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-casanova/) > [The spirit of rebellion is present in every great city, and the great task of wise government is to keep it dormant, for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-casanova/the-spirit-of-rebellion-is-present-in-every-great-city-and-the-great/) [Giacomo Casanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-casanova/) > [I have lived as a philosopher and die as a Christian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-casanova/i-have-lived-as-a-philosopher-and-die-as-a-christian/) [Giacomo Casanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-casanova/) > [We avenge intelligence when we deceive a fool, and the victory is worth the trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-casanova/we-avenge-intelligence-when-we-deceive-a-fool-and-the-victory-is/) [Giacomo Casanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-casanova/) > [There is no such thing as a perfectly happy or perfectly unhappy man in the world. One has more happiness in his life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-casanova/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-perfectly-happy-or-perfectly-unhappy-man/) [Giacomo Casanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-casanova/) > [Hatred, in the course of time, kills the unhappy wretch who delights in nursing it in his bosom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-casanova/hatred-in-the-course-of-time-kills-the-unhappy-wretch-who-delights-in/) [Giacomo Casanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-casanova/) [Explore all 111 Giacomo Casanova quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-casanova/) ## More Cheating quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [Being faithful shouldn't be challenging, cheating should. Too bad its the other way around though.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-faithful-shouldn-t-be-challenging-cheating-should-too-bad-its/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you leave someone for another person, don't be surprised if that person leaves you for someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-leave-someone-for-another-person-don-t-be-surprised-if-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The one thing I absolutely hate about social media are the people who abuse it. Whenever I see a person who constantly posts negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazmin-garcia/the-one-thing-i-absolutely-hate-about-social-media-are-the-people-who/) [Jazmin Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazmin-garcia/) > [They have no right to complain! If women were cool with knowing their man is cheating on them then they have no right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-williams/they-have-no-right-to-complain-if-women-were-cool-with-knowing-their/) [Eric Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-williams/) > [Sometimes it's better to shut up and leave me alone then pester me constantly because I am a human and I have feelings too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamika-leeigh/sometimes-it-s-better-to-shut-up-and-leave-me-alone-then-pester-me/) [Tamika-leeigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamika-leeigh/) > [I dont play when it comes to being unfaithful. You cheat, you get no second chance & you lost the best thing that ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-dont-play-when-it-comes-to-being-unfaithful-you-cheat-you-get-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's not the cheating. It's the hunger...The hunger for an alternative, and the refusal to accept a life of unhappiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/it-s-not-the-cheating-it-s-the-hunger-the-hunger-for-an-alternative/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [“To keep myself from harming or calling N and to stave off the rage and despair, I focus on my extraordinary son, drink midrange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-finnamore/to-keep-myself-from-harming-or-calling-n-and-to-stave-off-the-rage/) [Suzanne Finnamore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-finnamore/) > [Here is your government at work. A congressman from Colorado said he wants to draft a rule that would make it unethical to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/here-is-your-government-at-work-a-congressman-from-colorado-said-he/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Cheaters are like fruit flies. They taste each fruit from time to time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teejay-david/cheaters-are-like-fruit-flies-they-taste-each-fruit-from-time-to-time/) [Teejay David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teejay-david/) > [Cheating is like eating fast food. You do it, you enjoy it, and then you end up feeling like shit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/cheating-is-like-eating-fast-food-you-do-it-you-enjoy-it-and-then-you/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [One of two things when the guy you're dating isn't really ready to commit. He's an a\*\*hole and he's cheating on you; bottom line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-catherwood/one-of-two-things-when-the-guy-you-re-dating-isn-t-really-ready-to/) [Michael Catherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-catherwood/) > [If you can't count, they can cheat you. If you can't read, they can beat you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/if-you-can-t-count-they-can-cheat-you-if-you-can-t-read-they-can-beat/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“For me, it´s sloth," I say. "Hedonistic sloth and escapism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-finnamore/for-me-it-s-sloth-i-say-hedonistic-sloth-and-escapism/) [Suzanne Finnamore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-finnamore/) [Browse all 1,488 Cheating quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheating/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Cheating is a sin, but honest cunning is simply prudence. 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