--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Just like my Uncle Charlie used to say…" description: "\"Just like my Uncle Charlie used to say, just before he sprung the trap: He said, \"You can't cheat and honest man! Never give a sucker an even break or ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/w-c-fields-1625_break_just-like-my-uncle-charlie-used-to-say-j_2710272.png" --- # Just like my Uncle Charlie used to say, just before he… ![“Just like my Uncle Charlie used to say, just before he sprung the trap: He said, "You can't cheat and honest man! Never give a sucker an even break or smarten up a chump!” quote by W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/w-c-fields-1625_break_just-like-my-uncle-charlie-used-to-say-j_2710272.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/w-c-fields-1625_break_just-like-my-uncle-charlie-used-to-say-j_2710272.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/w-c-fields-1625_break_just-like-my-uncle-charlie-used-to-say-j_2710272.png) > “Just like my Uncle Charlie used to say, just before he sprung the trap: He said, "You can't cheat and honest man! Never give a sucker an even break or smarten up a chump!” [W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cheating is immoral; never give a dishonest person a chance to succeed. **In simple terms:** Don’t cheat honest people; don’t give liars a break. Key Takeaway Uphold honesty, avoid deceit. Themes ethics honesty cheating integrity Mood cautionary witty Type moral humorous When to use this quote - relationships - education - law enforcement Key Concepts personal conduct business dealings legal contexts Questions to Reflect On - When is a second chance justified? - How do you balance fairness and compassion? A Different Perspective Rigid morality may ignore nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [You can't cheat an honest man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/you-can-t-cheat-an-honest-man/) [W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) > [“Would you rather have the lords and nobles back? What is Democracy for? Not so we can rob each other. Or cheat.' I said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-carey/would-you-rather-have-the-lords-and-nobles-back-what-is-democracy-for/) [Peter Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-carey/) > [Head south let's all bring it in for Wally, eazy sees uncle Charlie Little Boo, but God's got him and I'm gonna miss everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/head-south-let-s-all-bring-it-in-for-wally-eazy-sees-uncle-charlie/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“And no cheating, Lady." he said. "But who could cheat Fate?" she asked. He shrugged."No-one. Yet everyone tries.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/and-no-cheating-lady-he-said-but-who-could-cheat-fate-she-asked-he/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [ I didn't shoot any guns then or when we did the scene with Uncle Charlie \[Matthew Goode\] and Evie \[Nicole Kidman\] in the hall.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-wasikowska/i-didn-t-shoot-any-guns-then-or-when-we-did-the-scene-with-uncle/) [Mia Wasikowska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-wasikowska/) > [“A piece of writing is a trap,” he said cheerily, “and the best kind. A book, you see, is the only kind of trap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-williams/a-piece-of-writing-is-a-trap-he-said-cheerily-and-the-best-kind-a/) [Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) > [“It is always the same trap,” she said gently. “You longed for conversation. The bear craved jokes. The gray wolf missed music. The boar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/it-is-always-the-same-trap-she-said-gently-you-longed-for/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Some escaped the trap, most didn't. Those who got out always left something of themselves behind, as some animals amputate a leg and leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/some-escaped-the-trap-most-didn-t-those-who-got-out-always-left/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [If weapons formed stand in front of me when ever I fell trap you said that you would be the one to set me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-hudson/if-weapons-formed-stand-in-front-of-me-when-ever-i-fell-trap-you-said/) [Jennifer Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-hudson/) > [“Adam thought he had me. When I was hurt, all broken up, he took me in and he waited on me, cooked for me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/adam-thought-he-had-me-when-i-was-hurt-all-broken-up-he-took-me-in/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“But what if it's a trap?' she repeated. Joe gave her a hard stare.'Of course it's a fucking trap,' he said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-ryan/but-what-if-it-s-a-trap-she-repeated-joe-gave-her-a-hard-stare-of/) [Chris Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-ryan/) > [If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/if-you-are-honest-people-may-cheat-you-be-honest-anyway/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [We’re flimflam artists. But remember, sonny, you can’t con people unless they’re greedy to begin with. W. C. Fields had it right. You can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-sheldon/we-re-flimflam-artists-but-remember-sonny-you-can-t-con-people-unless/) [Sidney Sheldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-sheldon/) > [If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/if-you-are-honest-and-frank-people-may-cheat-you-be-honest-and-frank/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [You can always cheat an honest man, but it takes more work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-can-always-cheat-an-honest-man-but-it-takes-more-work/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## More by W. C. Fields > [Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house unless they have a well-stocked bar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/thou-shalt-not-covet-thy-neighbor-s-house-unless-they-have-a-well/) [W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) > [Take me down to the bar! We'll drink breakfast together!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/take-me-down-to-the-bar-we-ll-drink-breakfast-together/) [W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) > [There comes a time in the affairs of man when he must take the bull by the tail and face the situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/there-comes-a-time-in-the-affairs-of-man-when-he-must-take-the-bull/) [W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) > [If pigs had wings, they would be pigeons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/if-pigs-had-wings-they-would-be-pigeons/) [W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) > [I feel like a midget with muddy feet had been walking over my tongue all night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/i-feel-like-a-midget-with-muddy-feet-had-been-walking-over-my-tongue/) [W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) > [What would you do if you were President, and, on the first day of May, the Russian Ambassador presented you with a beautiful cake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/what-would-you-do-if-you-were-president-and-on-the-first-day-of-may/) [W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) > [My illness is due to my doctor's insistence that I drink milk, a whitish fluid they force down helpless babies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/my-illness-is-due-to-my-doctor-s-insistence-that-i-drink-milk-a/) [W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) > [I am an expert of electricity. My father occupied the chair of applied electricity at the state prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/i-am-an-expert-of-electricity-my-father-occupied-the-chair-of-applied/) [W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) > [Bert Williams was the funniest man I ever saw and the saddest man I ever knew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/bert-williams-was-the-funniest-man-i-ever-saw-and-the-saddest-man-i/) [W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) > [A comic should suffer as much over a single line as a man with a hernia would in picking up a heavy barbell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/a-comic-should-suffer-as-much-over-a-single-line-as-a-man-with-a/) [W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) > [All my available funds are completely tied up in cash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/all-my-available-funds-are-completely-tied-up-in-cash/) [W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) > [Back in my rummy days, I would tremble and shake for hours upon arising. It was the only exercise I got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/back-in-my-rummy-days-i-would-tremble-and-shake-for-hours-upon/) [W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) > [Happiness means quiet nerves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/happiness-means-quiet-nerves/) [W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) > [W. C. Fields, a lifetime agnostic, was discovered reading a Bible on his deathbed. ''I'm looking for a loop-hole,'' he explained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/w-c-fields-a-lifetime-agnostic-was-discovered-reading-a-bible-on-his/) [W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) > [The movie people would have nothing to do with me until they heard me speak in a Broadway play, then they all wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/the-movie-people-would-have-nothing-to-do-with-me-until-they-heard-me/) [W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) [Explore all 221 W. C. Fields quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) ## More Break quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [Things are going well in Germany because the economy is booming and as an export-driven nation, we are profiting from the fact that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/things-are-going-well-in-germany-because-the-economy-is-booming-and/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) > [There were songs that we cut out after we chose the name, because 'Praise Break' turned out to be an underlying concept that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-caesar/there-were-songs-that-we-cut-out-after-we-chose-the-name-because/) [Daniel Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-caesar/) > [“He didn't break my heart. No one can break your heart except you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/he-didn-t-break-my-heart-no-one-can-break-your-heart-except-you/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“She couldn't break the orbit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/she-couldn-t-break-the-orbit/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/your-pain-is-the-breaking-of-the-shell-that-encloses-your/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Must I go bound while you go free Must I love a manwho doesn't love me Must I be born with so little art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/must-i-go-bound-while-you-go-free-must-i-love-a-manwho-doesn-t-love/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I hadn't worked for a year when I had my Prison Break audition and it was the easiest audition I've ever had. I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/i-hadn-t-worked-for-a-year-when-i-had-my-prison-break-audition-and-it/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [If you strike upon a thought that baffles you, break off from that entanglement and try another, so shall your wits be fresh to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristophanes/if-you-strike-upon-a-thought-that-baffles-you-break-off-from-that/) [Aristophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristophanes/) > [“A hole ain’t nothing either, but you can still break your neck in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-donati/a-hole-ain-t-nothing-either-but-you-can-still-break-your-neck-in-it/) [Sara Donati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-donati/) > [“I break things, a lot of things, but I don’t want one of them to be you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/i-break-things-a-lot-of-things-but-i-don-t-want-one-of-them-to-be-you/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [Motor racing's less of a sport these days than a commercial break doing 150 mph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dunne/motor-racing-s-less-of-a-sport-these-days-than-a-commercial-break/) Peter Dunne > [Much like teaching art to young art students age 10 to 15 or so on, you have to break it down into bite-sized pieces,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/much-like-teaching-art-to-young-art-students-age-10-to-15-or-so-on/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [The purpose is to be in gratitude forever. Live with applied consciousness, prosperity will break through the walls, flood you with it. You do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh-yogi/the-purpose-is-to-be-in-gratitude-forever-live-with-applied/) [Harbhajan Singh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh-yogi/) > [Never break another man's rice bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akio-morita/never-break-another-man-s-rice-bowl/) [Akio Morita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akio-morita/) Browse all 8,188 Break quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Just like my Uncle Charlie used to say, just before he sprung the trap: He said, \"You can't cheat and honest man! Never give a sucker an even break or smarten up a chump!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "W. C. 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