--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He caught me stealing his golden…" description: "\"He caught me stealing his golden phoenix.' Tithonus closed his eyes briefly. 'Good grief!' He opened them again. 'I was half hoping it wasn't true. Hav..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/herbie-brennan-29452_black_he-caught-me-stealing-his-golden-phoenix_3061606.jpg" --- # He caught me stealing his golden phoenix.' Tithonus closed… ![“He caught me stealing his golden phoenix.' Tithonus closed his eyes briefly. 'Good grief!' He opened them again. 'I was half hoping it wasn't true. Have you any idea of the implications?' 'He was mistreating it!' Pyrgus protested. 'Of course he was mistreating it. This is Black Hairstreak we're…” quote by Herbie Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/herbie-brennan-29452_black_he-caught-me-stealing-his-golden-phoenix_3061606.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/herbie-brennan-29452_black_he-caught-me-stealing-his-golden-phoenix_3061606.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/herbie-brennan-29452_black_he-caught-me-stealing-his-golden-phoenix_3061606.jpg) > “He caught me stealing his golden phoenix.' Tithonus closed his eyes briefly. 'Good grief!' He opened them again. 'I was half hoping it wasn't true. Have you any idea of the implications?' 'He was mistreating it!' Pyrgus protested. 'Of course he was mistreating it. This is Black Hairstreak we're talking about. He mistreats his own mother. I don't suppose you stole her as well?” [Herbie Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-brennan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A seemingly trivial theft can reveal deeper moral dilemmas and consequences. **In simple terms:** Small theft uncovers big issues. Key Takeaway Examine motives behind actions. Themes morality consequences curiosity Mood intrigued cautious Type philosophical dramatic When to use this quote - detective work - family conflict - mythic lore Key Concepts ethical relativism storytelling Questions to Reflect On - What drives someone to steal? - How do you weigh intent vs outcome? A Different Perspective Implications may be ambiguous. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phoenix/) ## Related quotes > [“Being Mistreated is the most important condition of mortality, for eternity itself depends on how we view those who mistreat us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-ferrell/being-mistreated-is-the-most-important-condition-of-mortality-for/) [James L. Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-ferrell/) > [If I can't enjoy the full and total happiness of love, then I want to drain its torments, its tortures to the dregs; then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/if-i-can-t-enjoy-the-full-and-total-happiness-of-love-then-i-want-to/) [Leopold von Sacher-Masoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/) > [My mother was a Bible student, and when I was a youngster, both my mother and father would say, 'If people would only live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monte-irvin/my-mother-was-a-bible-student-and-when-i-was-a-youngster-both-my/) [Monte Irvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monte-irvin/) > [We're like America's little pit bull. They beat it, starve it, mistreat it, and once in a while they let it out to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-wright/we-re-like-america-s-little-pit-bull-they-beat-it-starve-it-mistreat/) [Evan Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-wright/) > [If one mistreats citizens of foreign countries, one infringes upon one's duty toward one's own subjects; for thus one exposes themto the law of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/if-one-mistreats-citizens-of-foreign-countries-one-infringes-upon-one/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [You still indulge in distrustful fears that things will go wrong, or that people will betray you, or mistreat you; get above all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-d-wattles/you-still-indulge-in-distrustful-fears-that-things-will-go-wrong-or/) [Wallace D. Wattles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-d-wattles/) > [I don't yell at people, I don't mistreat people. I don't talk down to people, so no one else in this building, in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-don-t-yell-at-people-i-don-t-mistreat-people-i-don-t-talk-down-to/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [“Treat me right, I will always treat you far better. Mistreat me I'll flip the tables and show you how the game is played”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-rejniak/treat-me-right-i-will-always-treat-you-far-better-mistreat-me-i-ll/) Brian Rejniak > [Some of men mistreat good women. Making it more difficult for REAL men to get over the barrier women create after being hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/some-of-men-mistreat-good-women-making-it-more-difficult-for-real-men/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Guys, every time you mistreat a woman, you give up the rite to be treated like a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proudlesbian/guys-every-time-you-mistreat-a-woman-you-give-up-the-rite-to-be/) ProudLesbian > [It isn't so much when people mistreat us that angers us, it's when we realize we let them and didn't stick up for ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakerbuddy/it-isn-t-so-much-when-people-mistreat-us-that-angers-us-it-s-when-we/) [Bakerbuddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakerbuddy/) > [One false idea is that anyone can hurt you. Events can ruin your reputation, take your money, mistreat you, revenge itself upon you, deceive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-howard/one-false-idea-is-that-anyone-can-hurt-you-events-can-ruin-your/) [Vernon Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-howard/) > [I don't have any friends and don't have any intention of making any. People will stab you in the back, mistreat you, talk about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-coleman/i-don-t-have-any-friends-and-don-t-have-any-intention-of-making-any/) [Gary Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-coleman/) > [You can beat her, but don't mistreat her. Oh, don't believe that woman please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/you-can-beat-her-but-don-t-mistreat-her-oh-don-t-believe-that-woman/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I'm just singing for the women who think they can't speak out. Can't a man alive mistreat me, 'cause I know who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberta-hunter/i-m-just-singing-for-the-women-who-think-they-can-t-speak-out-can-t-a/) [Alberta Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberta-hunter/) ## More by Herbie Brennan > [A stunning survey of the latest evidence for intelligent life on Mars. Mac Tonnies brings a thoughtful, balanced and highly accessible approach to one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-brennan/a-stunning-survey-of-the-latest-evidence-for-intelligent-life-on-mars/) [Herbie Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-brennan/) > [“We've got a war going on, the demons are invading, you got implanted by the Prince of Darkness and you're worried I'll make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-brennan/we-ve-got-a-war-going-on-the-demons-are-invading-you-got-implanted-by/) [Herbie Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-brennan/) > [If your doctor has warned you to avoid excitement, do not turn to exploring your past lives as a soothing and sedentary occupation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-brennan/if-your-doctor-has-warned-you-to-avoid-excitement-do-not-turn-to/) [Herbie Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-brennan/) > [“Henry went down on one knee. 'Like King Arthur's knights,' Mr. Fogarty had told him, but he didn't feel much like a knight. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-brennan/henry-went-down-on-one-knee-like-king-arthur-s-knights-mr-fogarty-had/) [Herbie Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-brennan/) > [Brimstone: '...I shall smite thee with my fightful blasting wand so that thy teeth shall drop out, thy skin shall wrinkle, thou shalt have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-brennan/brimstone-i-shall-smite-thee-with-my-fightful-blasting-wand-so-that/) [Herbie Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-brennan/) > [How do you get on with your father ' Beleth asked. 'Very well ' Pyrgus answered loyally although it was far from the truth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-brennan/how-do-you-get-on-with-your-father-beleth-asked-very-well-pyrgus/) [Herbie Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-brennan/) > [“Is he dead? Blue asked, staring down at the prostrate body. kitterick shook his head.'No,but he will remain in a coma for several hours.And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-brennan/is-he-dead-blue-asked-staring-down-at-the-prostrate-body-kitterick/) [Herbie Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-brennan/) > [And your police are like our police in the Realm?' Blue said. 'They flog you if you do something wrong and cut off your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-brennan/and-your-police-are-like-our-police-in-the-realm-blue-said-they-flog/) [Herbie Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-brennan/) > [“Anybody could have seen you. I was just unlucky.' He realised what he'd said and added hurriedly, 'I mean not unlucky to have seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-brennan/anybody-could-have-seen-you-i-was-just-unlucky-he-realised-what-he-d/) [Herbie Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-brennan/) > [Just my luck,' sighed the endolg. 'Twenty million people in the Realm and I get locked up with a wuss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-brennan/just-my-luck-sighed-the-endolg-twenty-million-people-in-the-realm-and/) [Herbie Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-brennan/) > [“Speaking of lunacy,' remarked Pyrgus later, 'are you in love with my sister?' Oh, yes!' Henry said at once.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-brennan/speaking-of-lunacy-remarked-pyrgus-later-are-you-in-love-with-my/) [Herbie Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-brennan/) > [“His eyes were closing again, all of their own accord, so that he lay in red, pain-filled darkness. It occured to him that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-brennan/his-eyes-were-closing-again-all-of-their-own-accord-so-that-he-lay-in/) [Herbie Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-brennan/) > [“Blue clung to Pyrgus and her tears turned to a ghastly, gurgling giggle. 'I'm Queen of Hael now, Mr. Fogarty,' she said; and she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-brennan/blue-clung-to-pyrgus-and-her-tears-turned-to-a-ghastly-gurgling/) [Herbie Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-brennan/) > [“The portals are certainly closed, so the demons aren't giving any trouble. Lots of talk about hands of friendship, doves of peace, all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-brennan/the-portals-are-certainly-closed-so-the-demons-aren-t-giving-any/) [Herbie Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-brennan/) > [“Fogarty rolled the cylinder in his fingers.' Know what's interesting? I had a look at this thing when they took it out. The insides…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-brennan/fogarty-rolled-the-cylinder-in-his-fingers-know-what-s-interesting-i/) [Herbie Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-brennan/) [Explore all 17 Herbie Brennan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-brennan/) ## More Black quotes > [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [How can you be more subject; black woman in a white man's world?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/how-can-you-be-more-subject-black-woman-in-a-white-man-s-world/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [We have to build our own power. We have to win every single political office we can, where we have a majority of black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/we-have-to-build-our-own-power-we-have-to-win-every-single-political/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) Frank B. Wilderson III > [I know how hard it is to be a woman, especially a black woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-be-a-woman-especially-a-black-woman/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [If soot stains your tunic, dye it black. This is vengeance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/if-soot-stains-your-tunic-dye-it-black-this-is-vengeance/) [R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/) > [Hollywood is so fixated on keeping it that way because it's generating the buzz, but that representation isn't right. I definitely feel like it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/hollywood-is-so-fixated-on-keeping-it-that-way-because-it-s/) [John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/) > [Nowadays most people wear black most of the time anyway: go to a literary party and one would imagine everyone there was in perpetual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/nowadays-most-people-wear-black-most-of-the-time-anyway-go-to-a/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [There ain't no such thing as black Muslims. That's how they tried to cut off all my brothers in the rest of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-ain-t-no-such-thing-as-black-muslims-that-s-how-they-tried-to/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) Browse all 11,655 Black quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He caught me stealing his golden phoenix.' Tithonus closed his eyes briefly. 'Good grief!' He opened them again. 'I was half hoping it wasn't true. Have you any idea of the implications?' 'He was mistreating it!' Pyrgus protested. 'Of course he was mistreating it. This is Black Hairstreak we're talking about. He mistreats his own mother. I don't suppose you stole her as well?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herbie Brennan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-brennan/he-caught-me-stealing-his-golden-phoenix-tithonus-closed-his-eyes/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Black" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-brennan/he-caught-me-stealing-his-golden-phoenix-tithonus-closed-his-eyes/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/herbie-brennan-29452_black_he-caught-me-stealing-his-golden-phoenix_3061606.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/herbie-brennan-29452_black_he-caught-me-stealing-his-golden-phoenix_3061606.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/herbie-brennan-29452_black_he-caught-me-stealing-his-golden-phoenix_3061606.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He caught me stealing his golden phoenix.' Tithonus closed his eyes briefly. 'Good grief!' He opened them…” — Herbie Brennan", "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": "Herbie Brennan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-brennan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "He caught me stealing his golden...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-brennan/he-caught-me-stealing-his-golden-phoenix-tithonus-closed-his-eyes/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-brennan/he-caught-me-stealing-his-golden-phoenix-tithonus-closed-his-eyes/#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 } } ] } ```