--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Maxim 31: Only cheaters prosper. -The…" description: "\"“Maxim 31: Only cheaters prosper. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”\" — Howard Tayler" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/116/howard-tayler-8412_cheating_maxim-31-only-cheaters-prosper-the-seven_942457.jpg" --- # Maxim 31: Only cheaters prosper. -The Seventy Maxims of… ![“Maxim 31: Only cheaters prosper. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries” quote by Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/116/howard-tayler-8412_cheating_maxim-31-only-cheaters-prosper-the-seven_942457.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/116/howard-tayler-8412_cheating_maxim-31-only-cheaters-prosper-the-seven_942457.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/116/howard-tayler-8412_cheating_maxim-31-only-cheaters-prosper-the-seven_942457.jpg) > ““Maxim 31: Only cheaters prosper. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”” [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cheaters may gain short‑term benefits, but their success is unsustainable and morally flawed. **In simple terms:** Cheating brings temporary gain but long‑term cost. Key Takeaway Avoid cheating; value integrity. Themes ethics consequences integrity Mood humorous satirical Type moral reflective When to use this quote - business competition - personal relationships - gaming - politics Key Concepts short‑term gain long‑term fallout trust erosion Questions to Reflect On - Is short‑term profit worth long‑term damage? - What alternatives exist to achieve success honestly? A Different Perspective Cheating can lead to legal penalties and loss of reputation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cheating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheating/) [Prosperity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperity/) [Rules to live by](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rules-to-live-by/) ## Related quotes > [“Maxim 15: Only you can prevent friendly fire. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-15-only-you-can-prevent-friendly-fire-the-seventy-maxims-of/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [“Maxim 11: Everything is air-droppable at least once. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-11-everything-is-air-droppable-at-least-once-the-seventy-maxims/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [“Maxim 13: Do unto others. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-13-do-unto-others-the-seventy-maxims-of-maximally-effective/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [“Maxim 10: Sometimes the only way out is through... through the hull. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-10-sometimes-the-only-way-out-is-through-through-the-hull-the/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [“Maxim 32: Anything is amphibious if you can get it back out of the water. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-32-anything-is-amphibious-if-you-can-get-it-back-out-of-the/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [“Maxim 24: Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from a big gun. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-24-any-sufficiently-advanced-technology-is-indistinguishable/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [“Maxim 1: Pillage, then burn. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-1-pillage-then-burn-the-seventy-maxims-of-maximally-effective/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [“Maxim 4: Close air support covereth a multitude of sins. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-4-close-air-support-covereth-a-multitude-of-sins-the-seventy/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [“Maxim 5: Close air support and friendly fire should be easier to tell apart. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-5-close-air-support-and-friendly-fire-should-be-easier-to-tell/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [“Maxim 37: There is no "overkill." There is only "open fire" and "reload." -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-37-there-is-no-overkill-there-is-only-open-fire-and-reload-the/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [“Maxim 9: Never turn your back on an enemy. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-9-never-turn-your-back-on-an-enemy-the-seventy-maxims-of/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [“Maxim 16: Your name is in the mouth of others: be sure it has teeth. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-16-your-name-is-in-the-mouth-of-others-be-sure-it-has-teeth-the/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [“Maxim 30: A little trust goes a long way. The less you use, the further you'll go. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-30-a-little-trust-goes-a-long-way-the-less-you-use-the-further/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [Maxim 3: An ordnance technician at a dead run outranks everybody. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-3-an-ordnance-technician-at-a-dead-run-outranks-everybody-the/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [“Maxim 35: That which does not kill us has made a tactical error. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-35-that-which-does-not-kill-us-has-made-a-tactical-error-the/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) ## More by Howard Tayler > [Only cheaters prosper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/only-cheaters-prosper/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [“Maxim 34: If you're leaving scorch-marks, you need a bigger gun. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-34-if-you-re-leaving-scorch-marks-you-need-a-bigger-gun-the/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [When the messenger arrives and says 'Don't shoot the messenger,' it's a good idea to be prepared to shoot the messenger, just in case.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/when-the-messenger-arrives-and-says-don-t-shoot-the-messenger-it-s-a/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [“New orders: Make sure everybody who doesn't want to live here is aboard in five minutes. We are leaving. -Captain Kevyn Andreyasn”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/new-orders-make-sure-everybody-who-doesn-t-want-to-live-here-is/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [“Maxim 36: When the going gets tough, the tough call for close air support. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-36-when-the-going-gets-tough-the-tough-call-for-close-air/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [“Maxim 30: A little trust goes a long way. The less you use, the further you'll go. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-30-a-little-trust-goes-a-long-way-the-less-you-use-the-further/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [“Maxim 24: Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from a big gun. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-24-any-sufficiently-advanced-technology-is-indistinguishable/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [“Maxim 27: Don't be afraid to be the first to resort to violence. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-27-don-t-be-afraid-to-be-the-first-to-resort-to-violence-the/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [“Maxim 37: There is no "overkill." There is only "open fire" and "reload." -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-37-there-is-no-overkill-there-is-only-open-fire-and-reload-the/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [“Two minutes worth of signal analysis told me all I needed to know. This station "talks" to the dark matter universe about what goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/two-minutes-worth-of-signal-analysis-told-me-all-i-needed-to-know/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [“We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Cross it? I'm making plans to destroy the bridge from orbit. -Colonel Ceeta & Captain Tagon”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/we-ll-cross-that-bridge-when-we-come-to-it-cross-it-i-m-making-plans/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [The spirit of the law is the least of the things we're prepared to violate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/the-spirit-of-the-law-is-the-least-of-the-things-we-re-prepared-to/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [“Welcome to your new bodies, gentlemen. If you'd like, I can help you start your own 'dysmorphia is all in your head' support group.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/welcome-to-your-new-bodies-gentlemen-if-you-d-like-i-can-help-you/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [Maxim 3: An ordnance technician at a dead run outranks everybody. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-3-an-ordnance-technician-at-a-dead-run-outranks-everybody-the/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [“You know... confessing to avoid prosecution is a time-honored strategy. I don't want to be honored with time. Honor me with "slap-on-the-wrist," or maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/you-know-confessing-to-avoid-prosecution-is-a-time-honored-strategy-i/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) [Explore all 81 Howard Tayler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) ## 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 > [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": "“Maxim 31: Only cheaters prosper. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Howard Tayler" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-31-only-cheaters-prosper-the-seventy-maxims-of-maximally/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cheating" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-31-only-cheaters-prosper-the-seventy-maxims-of-maximally/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/116/howard-tayler-8412_cheating_maxim-31-only-cheaters-prosper-the-seven_942457.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/116/howard-tayler-8412_cheating_maxim-31-only-cheaters-prosper-the-seven_942457.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/116/howard-tayler-8412_cheating_maxim-31-only-cheaters-prosper-the-seven_942457.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Maxim 31: Only cheaters prosper. -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries” — Howard Tayler", "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": "Howard Tayler", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Maxim 31: Only cheaters prosper. -The...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-31-only-cheaters-prosper-the-seventy-maxims-of-maximally/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-31-only-cheaters-prosper-the-seventy-maxims-of-maximally/#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 } } ] } ```