---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is opportunity that makes the thief."
description: "\"It is opportunity that makes the thief.\" — Seneca the Younger"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/seneca-the-younger-219_inspirational_it-is-opportunity-that-makes-the-thief-2_2269717.jpg"
---

#  It is opportunity that makes the thief.

![“It is opportunity that makes the thief.” quote by Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/seneca-the-younger-219_inspirational_it-is-opportunity-that-makes-the-thief-2_2269717.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/seneca-the-younger-219_inspirational_it-is-opportunity-that-makes-the-thief-2_2269717.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/seneca-the-younger-219_inspirational_it-is-opportunity-that-makes-the-thief-2_2269717.jpg)

> “It is opportunity that makes the thief.”

[Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Opportunity creates temptation; without it, theft would not arise.

**In simple terms:** Opportunity breeds wrongdoing.

Key Takeaway

Guard against misuse of chance.

Themes

morality opportunity ethics self‑control

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

- business decisions
- personal temptation
- legal contexts

Key Concepts

Stoicism virtue ethics

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you differentiate opportunity from temptation?
- What safeguards can you set?

A Different Perspective

Opportunity can also enable good deeds.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Temptation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temptation/) [Thief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thief/) [Thieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thieves/)

## Related quotes

> [Opportunity makes the thief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/opportunity-makes-the-thief/)

Proverb

> [Opportunity makes a thief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/opportunity-makes-a-thief/)

[Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/)

> [“The opportunity makes the thief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stieg-larsson/the-opportunity-makes-the-thief/)

[Stieg Larsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stieg-larsson/)

> [As an actor, I've learned to become a detective. You have to figure out who that person is. If the character is a thief,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-spencer/as-an-actor-i-ve-learned-to-become-a-detective-you-have-to-figure-out/)

[Octavia Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-spencer/)

> [Oppurtunity Makes the Thief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steig-larsson/oppurtunity-makes-the-thief/)

[Steig Larsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steig-larsson/)

> [Hunger makes a thief of any man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/hunger-makes-a-thief-of-any-man/)

[Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/)

> [Readiness for opportunity makes for success. Opportunity often comes by accident; readiness never does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rayburn/readiness-for-opportunity-makes-for-success-opportunity-often-comes/)

[Sam Rayburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rayburn/)

> [“Opportunity makes the man”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-de-alencar/opportunity-makes-the-man/)

[José de Alencar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-de-alencar/)

> [Freedom brings opportunity, opportunity makes your future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-armstrong/freedom-brings-opportunity-opportunity-makes-your-future/)

[Curtis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-armstrong/)

> [Opportunity makes us known to others, but more to ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/opportunity-makes-us-known-to-others-but-more-to-ourselves/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Write your sins away, believe in your dream. As money makes you thief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/write-your-sins-away-believe-in-your-dream-as-money-makes-you-thief/)

[Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/)

> [If a man knows he will sooner or later be robbed upon a journey, he will have a bottle of the best in every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/if-a-man-knows-he-will-sooner-or-later-be-robbed-upon-a-journey-he/)

[Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/)

> [If war comes upon us, it will come as a thief in the night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eamon-de-valera/if-war-comes-upon-us-it-will-come-as-a-thief-in-the-night/)

[Eamon de Valera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eamon-de-valera/)

> [Procrastination is the thief of time: Year after year it steals, till all are fled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/procrastination-is-the-thief-of-time-year-after-year-it-steals-till/)

[Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/)

> [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 Seneca the Younger

> [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/)

[Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/)

> [It is for the superfluous we sweat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/it-is-for-the-superfluous-we-sweat/)

[Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/)

> [Men trust rather to their eyes than to their ears; the effect of precepts is therefore slow and tedious, whilst that of examples is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-trust-rather-to-their-eyes-than-to-their-ears-the-effect-of/)

[Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/)

> [A great step towards independence is a good-humored stomach, one that is willing to endure rough treatment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/a-great-step-towards-independence-is-a-good-humored-stomach-one-that/)

[Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/)

> [Men can be divided into 2 groups: one that goes ahead and achieves something, and one that comes after and criticizes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-can-be-divided-into-2-groups-one-that-goes-ahead-and-achieves/)

[Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/)

> [Leisure without study is death, and the grave of a living man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/leisure-without-study-is-death-and-the-grave-of-a-living-man/)

[Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/)

> [Such as the chain of causes we call Fate, such is the chain of wishes: one links on to another; the whole man is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/such-as-the-chain-of-causes-we-call-fate-such-is-the-chain-of-wishes/)

[Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/)

> [To rule yourself is the ultimate power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/to-rule-yourself-is-the-ultimate-power/)

[Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/)

> [The road by precepts is tedious, by example, short and efficacious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/the-road-by-precepts-is-tedious-by-example-short-and-efficacious/)

[Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/)

> [Misfortune is the test of a person's merit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/misfortune-is-the-test-of-a-person-s-merit/)

[Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/)

> [He who does not want to die should not want to live. For life is tendered to us with the proviso of death. Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/he-who-does-not-want-to-die-should-not-want-to-live-for-life-is/)

[Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/)

> [Let us not seek our disease out of ourselves; 'tis in us, and planted in our bowels; and the mere fact that we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/let-us-not-seek-our-disease-out-of-ourselves-tis-in-us-and-planted-in/)

[Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/)

> [After death there is nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/after-death-there-is-nothing/)

[Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/)

> [Adversity finds at last the man whom she has often passed by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/adversity-finds-at-last-the-man-whom-she-has-often-passed-by/)

[Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/)

> [Hesitation is the best cure for anger. The first blows of anger are heavy, but if it waits, it will think again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/hesitation-is-the-best-cure-for-anger-the-first-blows-of-anger-are/)

[Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/)

[Explore all 872 Seneca the Younger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/)

## More Inspirational quotes

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/)

[H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/)

> [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/)

[Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/)

> [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/)

[Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/)

> [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/)

[Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/)

> [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/)

[Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/)

> [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/)

[Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/)

> [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/)

[Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/)

> [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

[Browse all 114,561 Inspirational quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It is opportunity that makes the thief.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Seneca the Younger"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/it-is-opportunity-that-makes-the-thief/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Inspirational"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/it-is-opportunity-that-makes-the-thief/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/seneca-the-younger-219_inspirational_it-is-opportunity-that-makes-the-thief-2_2269717.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/seneca-the-younger-219_inspirational_it-is-opportunity-that-makes-the-thief-2_2269717.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/seneca-the-younger-219_inspirational_it-is-opportunity-that-makes-the-thief-2_2269717.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It is opportunity that makes the thief.” — Seneca the Younger",
                "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": "Seneca the Younger",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It is opportunity that makes the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/it-is-opportunity-that-makes-the-thief/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/it-is-opportunity-that-makes-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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
