--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The thief, as will become apparent, was a…" description: "\"The thief, as will become apparent, was a special type of thief. This thief was an artist of theft. Other thieves merely stole everything that was not ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/509/terry-pratchett-19_art_the-thief-as-will-become-apparent-was-a_3098454.jpg" --- # The thief, as will become apparent, was a special type of… ![“The thief, as will become apparent, was a special type of thief. This thief was an artist of theft. Other thieves merely stole everything that was not nailed down, but this thief stole the nails as well.” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/509/terry-pratchett-19_art_the-thief-as-will-become-apparent-was-a_3098454.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/509/terry-pratchett-19_art_the-thief-as-will-become-apparent-was-a_3098454.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/509/terry-pratchett-19_art_the-thief-as-will-become-apparent-was-a_3098454.jpg) > “The thief, as will become apparent, was a special type of thief. This thief was an artist of theft. Other thieves merely stole everything that was not nailed down, but this thief stole the nails as well.” [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes a thief who steals even the nails, using metaphor to illustrate an artist who takes even the foundations of a craft. **In simple terms:** Artist thief steals nails too. Key Takeaway Recognize creators who challenge conventions. Themes art subversion creativity Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - creative brainstorming - design critique - innovation workshops - art analysis Key Concepts metaphor artistic rebellion craftsmanship Questions to Reflect On - How does breaking foundations affect a discipline? - When is disruption beneficial? A Different Perspective Such subversion may be seen as destructive rather than constructive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Nailed Thief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nailed-thief-5359821/) [Nails](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nails/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) [Stole Nails](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stole-nails-5359820/) [Theft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theft/) [Thief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thief/) [Thief Apparent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thief-apparent-5359822/) [Thief Thief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thief-thief-1823538/) [Thieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thieves/) [Type](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/type/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [“Even if he was a thief, he was my thief. I could not push him away anymore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-lee-carey/even-if-he-was-a-thief-he-was-my-thief-i-could-not-push-him-away/) [Janet Lee Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-lee-carey/) > [“Even in the matter of stealing we must think of our own beam before our neighbour's mote. It is not easy to be honest.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/even-in-the-matter-of-stealing-we-must-think-of-our-own-beam-before/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Thief, thief, thief! Baggins! We hates it, we hates it, we hates it forever!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thief-thief-thief-baggins-we-hates-it-we-hates-it-we-hates-it-forever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every rascal is not a thief, but every thief is a rascal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/every-rascal-is-not-a-thief-but-every-thief-is-a-rascal/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“There is no problem in calling a thief, ‘a thief; but to call him bad, or to hurt him, is a fault of one’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/there-is-no-problem-in-calling-a-thief-a-thief-but-to-call-him-bad-or/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“792. Thief.-- N. thief, robber, homo trium literarum , pilferer, rifler, filcher, plagiarist. spoiler, depredator, pillager, marauder; harpy, shark, land-shark, falcon, moss-trooper, bushranger, Bedouin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roget/792-thief-n-thief-robber-homo-trium-literarum-pilferer-rifler-filcher/) [Roget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roget/) > [All property is theft, except mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/all-property-is-theft-except-mine/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“A thief is a thief is a thief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-bryant/a-thief-is-a-thief-is-a-thief/) [Annie Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-bryant/) > [“A thief was a thief, whether he stole a little or a lot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/a-thief-was-a-thief-whether-he-stole-a-little-or-a-lot/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [It is not necessary the son of thief to Become a thief, the father would not want his son ever to a thief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/it-is-not-necessary-the-son-of-thief-to-become-a-thief-the-father/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [“Anyone can tell that Freddy is no thief.” “She’s right about that,” the dull-witted Freddy put in helpfully. “I’ve got two left feet-can’t go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-jeffries/anyone-can-tell-that-freddy-is-no-thief-she-s-right-about-that-the/) [Sabrina Jeffries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-jeffries/) > [Every true man's apparel fits your thief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/every-true-man-s-apparel-fits-your-thief/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-advise/) > [The difference between theft and destruction is often a few keystrokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-alperovitch/the-difference-between-theft-and-destruction-is-often-a-few-keystrokes/) [Dmitri Alperovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-alperovitch/) > [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 Terry Pratchett > [“This one’s mental.’ ‘Eccentric.’ ‘What’s the difference?’ ‘A bag of cash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/this-one-s-mental-eccentric-what-s-the-difference-a-bag-of-cash/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“But I did not return until half past four this morning and I distinctly remember stubbing my toe on the stairs. I am as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/but-i-did-not-return-until-half-past-four-this-morning-and-i/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Someone broke from the scrum and, punching and kicking, staggered towards the Klatchian goal. "Isn't that man your butler?" said Ahmed. "Yes." "One of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/someone-broke-from-the-scrum-and-punching-and-kicking-staggered/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [It's an interesting fact that fewer than 17 % of Real cats end their lives with the same name they started with. Much family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-an-interesting-fact-that-fewer-than-17-of-real-cats-end-their/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [You can't trust folk songs. They always sneak up on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-can-t-trust-folk-songs-they-always-sneak-up-on-you/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Either dragons should exist completely or fail to exist at all, he felt. A dragon only half-existing was worse than the extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/either-dragons-should-exist-completely-or-fail-to-exist-at-all-he/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Magrat wondered what it was like, spending your whole life doing something you didn’t want to do. Like being dead, she considered, only worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/magrat-wondered-what-it-was-like-spending-your-whole-life-doing/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [A hardback's harder at Christmas time because that's a good hardback buying time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-hardback-s-harder-at-christmas-time-because-that-s-a-good-hardback/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There were more old people. The world was full of them,' said the wizard. 'Yes, I know. And now it's full of young people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-were-more-old-people-the-world-was-full-of-them-said-the-wizard/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Hobson was big and heavyset, but not exactly fat; he was probably what you’d get if you shaved a bear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/hobson-was-big-and-heavyset-but-not-exactly-fat-he-was-probably-what/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There is a night that never comes to an end… The clock of the world turns under its own shadow. Midnight is a moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-is-a-night-that-never-comes-to-an-end-the-clock-of-the-world/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You'd like Freedom, Truth, and Justice, wouldn't you, Comrade Sergeant?' said Reg encouragingly. 'I'd like a hard-boiled egg,' said Vimes, shaking the match out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-d-like-freedom-truth-and-justice-wouldn-t-you-comrade-sergeant/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You are not apprehensive, are you? I can't detect no trace of fear none whatsoever Roomy cranium all possible videos of all possible outcomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-are-not-apprehensive-are-you-i-can-t-detect-no-trace-of-fear-none/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Imagination, not intelligence, made us human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/imagination-not-intelligence-made-us-human/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) [Explore all 3,328 Terry Pratchett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The thief, as will become apparent, was a special type of thief. This thief was an artist of theft. Other thieves merely stole everything that was not nailed down, but this thief stole the nails as well.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terry Pratchett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-thief-as-will-become-apparent-was-a-special-type-of-thief-this/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-thief-as-will-become-apparent-was-a-special-type-of-thief-this/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/509/terry-pratchett-19_art_the-thief-as-will-become-apparent-was-a_3098454.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/509/terry-pratchett-19_art_the-thief-as-will-become-apparent-was-a_3098454.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/509/terry-pratchett-19_art_the-thief-as-will-become-apparent-was-a_3098454.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The thief, as will become apparent, was a special type of thief. This thief was an artist of theft. Other…” — Terry Pratchett", "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": "Terry Pratchett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The thief, as will become apparent,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-thief-as-will-become-apparent-was-a-special-type-of-thief-this/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-thief-as-will-become-apparent-was-a-special-type-of-thief-this/#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 } } ] } ```