---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thieves at home must hang; but he that…"
description: "\"Thieves at home must hang; but he that puts Into his overgorged and bloated purse The wealth of Indian provinces, escapes.\" — William Cowper"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68f/william-cowper-779_corruption_thieves-at-home-must-hang-but-he-that-pu_2514376.png"
---

#  Thieves at home must hang; but he that puts Into his…

![“Thieves at home must hang; but he that puts Into his overgorged and bloated purse The wealth of Indian provinces, escapes.” quote by William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68f/william-cowper-779_corruption_thieves-at-home-must-hang-but-he-that-pu_2514376.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68f/william-cowper-779_corruption_thieves-at-home-must-hang-but-he-that-pu_2514376.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68f/william-cowper-779_corruption_thieves-at-home-must-hang-but-he-that-pu_2514376.png)

> “Thieves at home must hang; but he that puts Into his overgorged and bloated purse The wealth of Indian provinces, escapes.”

[William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/)

## About This Quote

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

Wealth accumulated by greed can slip away, while thieves at home are punished; material riches are fleeting.

**In simple terms:** Greedy wealth is unstable.

Key Takeaway

Beware of greed and focus on integrity.

Themes

greed wealth justice impermanence

Mood

cautionary reflective

Type

poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

- financial planning
- ethical business
- personal finance
- law enforcement

Key Concepts

economics morality poetry

Questions to Reflect On

- What values can replace the pursuit of wealth?
- How does society punish hidden theft?

A Different Perspective

Greed may also fund positive change if redirected.

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[Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Home Hang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home-hang-436597/) [Indian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indian/) [Provinces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/provinces/) [Provinces Escapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/provinces-escapes-1187991/) [Purse Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purse-wealth-1187990/) [Purses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purses/) [Thief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thief/) [Thieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thieves/) [Thieves Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thieves-home-1187989/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/)

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