--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mathias remembered that once when he was…" description: "\"“Mathias remembered that once when he was a boy, he'd gone up to a pile of red apples that lay in the market cart, in the market near Stolberg where hi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/riccardo-bruni-66390_apples_mathias-remembered-that-once-when-he-was_186876.jpg" --- # Mathias remembered that once when he was a boy, he'd gone… ![“Mathias remembered that once when he was a boy, he'd gone up to a pile of red apples that lay in the market cart, in the market near Stolberg where his father often took him. He'd always loved apples, and he couldn't resist the temptation of grabbing one out of the pile. He chose the closest, a…” quote by Riccardo Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/riccardo-bruni-66390_apples_mathias-remembered-that-once-when-he-was_186876.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/riccardo-bruni-66390_apples_mathias-remembered-that-once-when-he-was_186876.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/riccardo-bruni-66390_apples_mathias-remembered-that-once-when-he-was_186876.jpg) > ““Mathias remembered that once when he was a boy, he'd gone up to a pile of red apples that lay in the market cart, in the market near Stolberg where his father often took him. He'd always loved apples, and he couldn't resist the temptation of grabbing one out of the pile. He chose the closest, a splendid red piece of fruit that he would never forget because of his overwhelming desire to take it and hide it in the folds of his clothing. A moment after Mathias reached out and snatched it, the pile slid and applies tumbled down all around him. The farmer, who knew his father, would have been satisfied with an apology. But his father, a successful craftsman who was well-known and respected in the town, had insisted on purchasing an entire basketful of apples, because of the trouble Mathias had caused. Mathias got the worst scolding his father had ever given him. Not because of the money, but for the small act of petty thievery, which an upright man like his father would never tolerate. He shouldered his punishment, and in the end was only allowed to eat as single apple from the basket. He spent the night thinking about the pile. He had to remove only one and the whole thing had come down. He wondered if the same thing might happen with any tower, no matter how majestic and imposing it might seem, were someone to remove the right stone from the base. The thought stayed with him throughout his life. Venice now seemed a lot like that pile of apples. If three murders truly represented an irresistible opportunity, then which nobleman would have seized it, knowing that such a thing would cause La Serenissima and everything it represented to come crashing down?”” Riccardo Bruni ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The story illustrates how a single small action can trigger a cascade of larger consequences, reflecting on cause and effect in personal and societal contexts. **In simple terms:** One small act can cause big fallout. Key Takeaway Consider the wider impact of your choices. Themes cause and effect consequences ethical behavior personal responsibility systems thinking Mood reflective cautious Type narrative lesson When to use this quote - personal growth Key Concepts chain reaction moral lesson historical analogy Questions to Reflect On - What seemingly minor decisions have shaped your life? - How do you assess risk before acting? A Different Perspective A single act may be unavoidable due to circumstances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apples/) [Crime and punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime-and-punishment/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Lesson learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lesson-learned/) [Night thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night-thinking/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Thievery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thievery/) ## Related quotes > [“Because you are my sun. You are the light of my life and you are the voice that calls me from my dreams." --Mairin”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shari-richardson/because-you-are-my-sun-you-are-the-light-of-my-life-and-you-are-the/) [Shari Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shari-richardson/) > [“I am a planet orbiting my sun," He whispered, forcing me to step closer to hear him. "I am only Mathias.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shari-richardson/i-am-a-planet-orbiting-my-sun-he-whispered-forcing-me-to-step-closer/) [Shari Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shari-richardson/) > [“Don't go," I begged, knowing I meant more than leaving the room. "Never," he said. "Never again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shari-richardson/don-t-go-i-begged-knowing-i-meant-more-than-leaving-the-room-never-he/) [Shari Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shari-richardson/) > [“But if this was to be my end – and it sure as fuck was coming, for my breaths were slower, my heartbeat faster,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adelaide-blaike/but-if-this-was-to-be-my-end-and-it-sure-as-fuck-was-coming-for-my/) Adelaide Blaike > [Bob Mathias was one of those rare individuals with the ability to inspire a nation through his determination and perseverance. He was a champion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ueberroth/bob-mathias-was-one-of-those-rare-individuals-with-the-ability-to/) [Peter Ueberroth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ueberroth/) > [“Mathias lifted his head and looked directly into Mina's eyes. His smile was gone. Possession filled his gaze. After tonight, you won't be asking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-donnelly-and-robyn-mckenzie/mathias-lifted-his-head-and-looked-directly-into-mina-s-eyes-his/) Gayle Donnelly and Robyn McKenzie > [“Are you a vampire, Mathias?" He never blinked nor shifted his eyes from mine. "Yes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shari-richardson/are-you-a-vampire-mathias-he-never-blinked-nor-shifted-his-eyes-from/) [Shari Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shari-richardson/) > [I believe that the levels of taxation advocated by liberals render those taxes a veiled form of theft. 'Give me more than half of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/i-believe-that-the-levels-of-taxation-advocated-by-liberals-render/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [“The petty thief is imprisoned but the big thief becomes a feudal lord.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/the-petty-thief-is-imprisoned-but-the-big-thief-becomes-a-feudal-lord/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [“Farming is backbreaking work, but at least it is honest labor. This killing isn’t honest. It is thievery… the thievery of men’s lives, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/farming-is-backbreaking-work-but-at-least-it-is-honest-labor-this/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [The white worker who has been displaced at General Motors has more in common with the displaced black worker than those larger white CEO's,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-white-worker-who-has-been-displaced-at-general-motors-has-more-in/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Is there a point of taxation wherein even a Democrat would acknowledge it is thievery by the government?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/is-there-a-point-of-taxation-wherein-even-a-democrat-would/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [Nothing is original.. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/nothing-is-original-steal-from-anywhere-that-resonates-with/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [“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 > [There is no moral distinction between petty thievery and 'from each according to ability, to each according to need.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/there-is-no-moral-distinction-between-petty-thievery-and-from-each/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) ## More by Riccardo Bruni > [“something hits you, and you are in that moment. Everything is suddenly in its rightful place, and you feel like you could stay there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riccardo-bruni/something-hits-you-and-you-are-in-that-moment-everything-is-suddenly/) Riccardo Bruni > [“He was going to hurt the people he hated, but inside he didn't feel any real sense of satisfaction. He hated them all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riccardo-bruni/he-was-going-to-hurt-the-people-he-hated-but-inside-he-didn-t-feel/) Riccardo Bruni > [“It’s strange how we feel the need to connect with death. Look at it up close, so we can almost touch it. Like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riccardo-bruni/it-s-strange-how-we-feel-the-need-to-connect-with-death-look-at-it-up/) Riccardo Bruni Explore all 4 Riccardo Bruni quotes ## More Apples quotes > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [I named my son Noah for the same reason Chris Martin named his apple: we're asses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/i-named-my-son-noah-for-the-same-reason-chris-martin-named-his-apple/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [I think, however, that Astaire's coordination is better than Kelly's... his sense of rhythm is uncanny. Kelly, on the other hand, is the stronger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/i-think-however-that-astaire-s-coordination-is-better-than-kelly-s/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [“In the back of the fridge I checked out some stewed apples destined to fester. I examined them closely and reckoned they had only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-brown/in-the-back-of-the-fridge-i-checked-out-some-stewed-apples-destined/) [Helen Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-brown/) > [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/) > [I'm not only a fan of Apple products, I have stock in the company. I think Steve Jobs has started one of the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-rock/i-m-not-only-a-fan-of-apple-products-i-have-stock-in-the-company-i/) [Kid Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-rock/) > [I love to eat an apple after a meal, just to cleanse my teeth - they always look polished afterwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-zeta-jones/i-love-to-eat-an-apple-after-a-meal-just-to-cleanse-my-teeth-they/) [Catherine Zeta-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-zeta-jones/) > [I have a friend who is a juggler. If I'm at his house, I don't like to take food from him, if it's in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-have-a-friend-who-is-a-juggler-if-i-m-at-his-house-i-don-t-like-to/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [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/) > [Like a satellite in orbit, Apple is perpetually falling. It just happens to miss Earth every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-dediu/like-a-satellite-in-orbit-apple-is-perpetually-falling-it-just/) Horace Dediu > [I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/i-have-always-said-if-there-ever-came-a-day-when-i-could-no-longer/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [Positive thinking is so firmly enshrined in our culture that knocking it is a little like attacking motherhood or apple pie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srikumar-rao/positive-thinking-is-so-firmly-enshrined-in-our-culture-that-knocking/) [Srikumar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srikumar-rao/) > [Therein lies the rub of a place like Berkeley Bowl. 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Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [The next time you're looking at a charity, don't ask about the rate of their overhead; ask about the scale of their dreams -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pallotta/the-next-time-you-re-looking-at-a-charity-don-t-ask-about-the-rate-of-2/) [Dan Pallotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pallotta/) [Browse all 1,262 Apples quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apples/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Mathias remembered that once when he was a boy, he'd gone up to a pile of red apples that lay in the market cart, in the market near Stolberg where his father often took him. He'd always loved apples, and he couldn't resist the temptation of grabbing one out of the pile. He chose the closest, a splendid red piece of fruit that he would never forget because of his overwhelming desire to take it and hide it in the folds of his clothing. A moment after Mathias reached out and snatched it, the pile slid and applies tumbled down all around him. The farmer, who knew his father, would have been satisfied with an apology. But his father, a successful craftsman who was well-known and respected in the town, had insisted on purchasing an entire basketful of apples, because of the trouble Mathias had caused. Mathias got the worst scolding his father had ever given him. Not because of the money, but for the small act of petty thievery, which an upright man like his father would never tolerate. He shouldered his punishment, and in the end was only allowed to eat as single apple from the basket. He spent the night thinking about the pile. He had to remove only one and the whole thing had come down. He wondered if the same thing might happen with any tower, no matter how majestic and imposing it might seem, were someone to remove the right stone from the base. The thought stayed with him throughout his life. 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