--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I prefer a thief to a Congressman. A…" description: "\"I prefer a thief to a Congressman. A thief will take your money and be on his way, but a Congressman will stand there and bore you with the reasons why..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70c/walter-e-williams-2709_bores_i-prefer-a-thief-to-a-congressman-a-thie_1834905.png" --- # I prefer a thief to a Congressman. A thief will take your… ![“I prefer a thief to a Congressman. A thief will take your money and be on his way, but a Congressman will stand there and bore you with the reasons why he took it.” quote by Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70c/walter-e-williams-2709_bores_i-prefer-a-thief-to-a-congressman-a-thie_1834905.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70c/walter-e-williams-2709_bores_i-prefer-a-thief-to-a-congressman-a-thie_1834905.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70c/walter-e-williams-2709_bores_i-prefer-a-thief-to-a-congressman-a-thie_1834905.png) > “I prefer a thief to a Congressman. A thief will take your money and be on his way, but a Congressman will stand there and bore you with the reasons why he took it.” [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that a thief’s actions are straightforward compared to a congressman’s justifications, suggesting political corruption is more insidious **In simple terms:** Congressmen hide behind explanations while thieves act directly Key Takeaway Be wary of political rhetoric that masks self‑interest Themes politics corruption trust Mood critical skeptical Type political analytical When to use this quote - voting decisions - policy debates - civic engagement Key Concepts ethical leadership accountability public service Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports or refutes this view? - How can citizens hold representatives accountable? A Different Perspective Not all politicians are corrupt; some genuinely serve ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bores/) [Bores you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bores-you/) [Congressman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congressman/) [Congressman Thief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congressman-thief-2303541/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Prefer Thief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prefer-thief-2303540/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reason why](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-why/) [Thief Congressman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thief-congressman-2303539/) [Thief Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thief-money-2303542/) [Thieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thieves/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [The difference between a thief and a congressman: When a thief steals your money, he doesn't expect you to thank him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/the-difference-between-a-thief-and-a-congressman-when-a-thief-steals/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [There are many farm handouts; but let's call them what they really are: a form of legalized theft. Essentially, a congressman tells his farm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/there-are-many-farm-handouts-but-let-s-call-them-what-they-really-are/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [In general, presidents and congressmen have very limited power to do good for the economy and awesome power to do bad. The best good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/in-general-presidents-and-congressmen-have-very-limited-power-to-do/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [If beginnings terrify you, or if you just plain don't like writing them, or if they bore you, skip 'em.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carson-levine/if-beginnings-terrify-you-or-if-you-just-plain-don-t-like-writing/) [Gail Carson Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carson-levine/) > [The world is eaten up by boredom. You can't see it all at once. It is like dust. You go about and never notice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-bernanos/the-world-is-eaten-up-by-boredom-you-can-t-see-it-all-at-once-it-is/) [Georges Bernanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-bernanos/) > [When the silence bores you, let the music play; when the music bores you, let the silence play!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/when-the-silence-bores-you-let-the-music-play-when-the-music-bores/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [If God bores you, tell Him that He bores you, that you prefer the vilest amusements to His presence, that you only feel at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/if-god-bores-you-tell-him-that-he-bores-you-that-you-prefer-the/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [I loved the towns I grew up in as a boy, and after I became a celebrity, I went back several times. I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/i-loved-the-towns-i-grew-up-in-as-a-boy-and-after-i-became-a/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [I don't mind people putting us down, because if everybody really liked us, it would be a bore. You've got to have people putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-don-t-mind-people-putting-us-down-because-if-everybody-really-liked/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [ We should all know this: that listening is not talking; \[it\] is the gifted and great role and the imaginative role. And the true… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-ueland/we-should-all-know-this-that-listening-is-not-talking-it-is-the/) [Brenda Ueland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-ueland/) > [Trivial participation ultimately bores you, leaves behind a sense of shallowness, contributes little to your deeper sense of life. Significant participation, on the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henryk-skolimowski/trivial-participation-ultimately-bores-you-leaves-behind-a-sense-of/) [Henryk Skolimowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henryk-skolimowski/) > [Work/Loaf Ratio”...I have spent fourteen years perfecting... I won't bore you with a long-winded explanation of the “W/LR” save to say that it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-reilly/work-loaf-ratio-i-have-spent-fourteen-years-perfecting-i-won-t-bore/) [Gary Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-reilly/) > [Love your mother, she bore you. Love your father, he works for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-gaye/love-your-mother-she-bore-you-love-your-father-he-works-for-you/) [Marvin Gaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-gaye/) > [I am convinced that boredom is one of the greatest tortures. If I were to imagine Hell, it would be the place where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/i-am-convinced-that-boredom-is-one-of-the-greatest-tortures-if-i-were/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Grammar is to a writer what anatomy is to a sculptor, or the scales to a musician. You may loathe it, it may bore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-chute/grammar-is-to-a-writer-what-anatomy-is-to-a-sculptor-or-the-scales-to/) [B. J. Chute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-chute/) ## More by Walter E. Williams > [Vote for me. I'll use my office to take another American's money and give it to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/vote-for-me-i-ll-use-my-office-to-take-another-american-s-money-and/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Elect me to office. I will protect and defend the U.S. Constitution. Because there's no constitutional authority for Congress spending on the objects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/elect-me-to-office-i-will-protect-and-defend-the-u-s-constitution/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [More important than anything else is for Americans to wise up to class warfare demagoguery and reject the politics of envy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/more-important-than-anything-else-is-for-americans-to-wise-up-to/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Wal-Mart has become the whipping boy for political demagogues, unions and anti-traders. I suggest that they have the wrong target… Wal-Mart exists and prospers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/wal-mart-has-become-the-whipping-boy-for-political-demagogues-unions/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [When the Founders thought of democracy, they saw democracy in the political sphere - a sphere strictly limited by the Constitution's well-defined and enumerated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/when-the-founders-thought-of-democracy-they-saw-democracy-in-the/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Reaching into one's own pocket to assist his fellow man is noble and worthy of praise. Reaching into another person's pocket to assist one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/reaching-into-one-s-own-pocket-to-assist-his-fellow-man-is-noble-and/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [If there's a distinct group of Americans who harbor open contempt for constitutional principles and rule of law, it's lawyers, judges and members of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/if-there-s-a-distinct-group-of-americans-who-harbor-open-contempt-for/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Conservatives and liberals are kindred spirits as far as government spending is concerned. First, let's make sure we understand what government spending is. Since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/conservatives-and-liberals-are-kindred-spirits-as-far-as-government/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Students who are alien and hostile to the education process ought to be removed. You say, "What will we do with them?" I say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/students-who-are-alien-and-hostile-to-the-education-process-ought-to/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Minimum-wage laws are one of the most powerful tools in the arsenal of racists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/minimum-wage-laws-are-one-of-the-most-powerful-tools-in-the-arsenal/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [What we call the market is really a democratic process involving millions, and in some markets billions, of people making personal decisions that express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/what-we-call-the-market-is-really-a-democratic-process-involving/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [The bottom line is that the true test of one's commitment to freedom of association doesn't come when he allows people to associate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/the-bottom-line-is-that-the-true-test-of-one-s-commitment-to-freedom/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [The difference between a thief and a congressman: When a thief steals your money, he doesn't expect you to thank him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/the-difference-between-a-thief-and-a-congressman-when-a-thief-steals/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [The global warming scare has provided a field day for politicians and others who wish to control our lives. After all, only the imagination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/the-global-warming-scare-has-provided-a-field-day-for-politicians-and/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Legislators aren't known for being rocket scientists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/legislators-aren-t-known-for-being-rocket-scientists/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) [Explore all 153 Walter E. Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) ## More Bores quotes > [It's a bore - B-O-R-E - when you find you've begun to rot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/it-s-a-bore-b-o-r-e-when-you-find-you-ve-begun-to-rot/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [Redtail was a brave warrior. His loyalty to ThunderClan could never be doubted. I always relied on his judgment, for it bore witness to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hunter/redtail-was-a-brave-warrior-his-loyalty-to-thunderclan-could-never-be/) [Erin Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hunter/) > [We are almost always wearied in the company of persons with whom we are not permitted to be weary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-are-almost-always-wearied-in-the-company-of-persons-with-whom-we/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The poet's first rule must be never to bore his readers; and his best way of keeping this rule is never to bore himself-which,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/the-poet-s-first-rule-must-be-never-to-bore-his-readers-and-his-best/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [Attractive Etonians who go straight onto the Stock Exchange missing University on their fathers advice: the raw material of the great bores.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-madan/attractive-etonians-who-go-straight-onto-the-stock-exchange-missing/) [Geoffrey Madan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-madan/) > [Life in this society being, at best, an utter bore and no aspect of society being at all relevant to women, there remains to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-solanas/life-in-this-society-being-at-best-an-utter-bore-and-no-aspect-of/) [Valerie Solanas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-solanas/) > [All politicians are bores and liars and fakes. I talk to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/all-politicians-are-bores-and-liars-and-fakes-i-talk-to-people/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [And I am quite serious when I say that I do not believe there are, on the whole earth besides, so many intensified bores…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/and-i-am-quite-serious-when-i-say-that-i-do-not-believe-there-are-on/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Mr. Presley has no discernible singing ability. His specialty is rhythm songs which he renders in an undistinguished whine; his phrasing, if it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-gould/mr-presley-has-no-discernible-singing-ability-his-specialty-is-rhythm/) [Jack Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gould/) > [Mark how fleeting and paltry is the estate of man-yesterday in embryo, tomorrow a mummy or ashes. So for the hairsbreadth of time assigned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/mark-how-fleeting-and-paltry-is-the-estate-of-man-yesterday-in-embryo/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [It is an occupational hazard of devout folk to become stuffy bores. This should not be. Of all people, we should be the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/it-is-an-occupational-hazard-of-devout-folk-to-become-stuffy-bores/) [Richard J. 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Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [The cross of Christ is the sweetest burden that I ever bore; it is such a burden as wings are to a bird, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-rutherford/the-cross-of-christ-is-the-sweetest-burden-that-i-ever-bore-it-is/) [Samuel Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-rutherford/) > [It is a sin to bore a child with the Word of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-g-hendricks/it-is-a-sin-to-bore-a-child-with-the-word-of-god/) [Howard G. Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-g-hendricks/) [Browse all 653 Bores quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bores/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I prefer a thief to a Congressman. A thief will take your money and be on his way, but a Congressman will stand there and bore you with the reasons why he took it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walter E. 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