“Stealing a man's wife, that's nothing, but stealing his car, that's larceny.”

Source: The Postman Always Rings Twice

Last update June 3, 2021. History

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Do you have more details about the quote "Stealing a man's wife, that's nothing, but stealing his car, that's larceny." by James M. Cain?
James M. Cain photo
James M. Cain 8
Novelist, short story writer, journalist 1892–1977

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“When you kill a man, you steal a life," Baba said. "You steal his wife's right to a husband, rob his children of a father. When you tell a lie, you steal someone's right to the truth. When you cheat, you steal the right to fairness. Do you see?”

Variant: When you kill a man, you steal a life. You steal his wife's right to a husband, rob his children of a father. When you tell a lie, you steal someone's right to the truth. When you cheat, you steal the right to fairness.
Source: The Kite Runner (2003)
Context: There is only one sin, only one. And that is theft. Every other sin is a variation of theft.... When you kill a man, you steal a life. You steal his wife's right to a husband, rob his children of a father. When you tell a lie, you steal someone's right to the truth. When you cheat, you steal the right to fairness.

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“I'm not sorry for stealing my husband from his wife.”

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Katie Hopkins: " I'm Not Sorry For Stealing My Husband From His Wife http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/08/06/katie-hopkins_n_3711079.html", at huffingtonpost.co.uk, posted: 06/08/20.
After admitting on The Apprentice That she had had an affair with Mark Cross who she knew was married, Hopkins clarified that she had no remorse for this, causing Cross to divorce his wife and eventually marrying him.

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“A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad.”

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“When a man steals your wife there is no better revenge than to let him keep her.”

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“When a man opens a car door for his wife, it's either a new car or a new wife.”

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“A man won't steal, ordinarily, unless that which he steals is something he cannot as easily get without stealing; in liberty the cost of stealing would involve greater difficulties than producing, and consequently he would not be apt to steal.”

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The Economic Tendency of Freethought (1890)
Context: A man won't steal, ordinarily, unless that which he steals is something he cannot as easily get without stealing; in liberty the cost of stealing would involve greater difficulties than producing, and consequently he would not be apt to steal. But suppose a man steals. Today you go to a representative of that power which has robbed you of the earth, of the right of free contract of the means of exchange, taxes you for everything you eat or wear (the meanest form of robbery), — you go to him for redress from a thief!

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“307. Hee wrongs not an old man that steales his supper from him.”

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Bruton v. Morris (1614), Lord Hobart's Rep. 182.

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