---
title: "You can't cheat an honest man. He has to have larceny in his heart in… — W. C. Fields Quote #71 | QuotesBy.net"
description: "You can't cheat an honest man. He has to have larceny in his heart in the first place. — a quote by W. C. Fields."
image: "https://quotesby.net/wp-content/themes/quotesby-editorial/assets/og-default.png"
---

> # You can't cheat an honest man. He has to have larceny in his heart in the first place.

[W. C. Fields](https://quotesby.net/W.-C.-Fields)\#71

[Ethics](https://quotesby.net/W.-C.-Fields/ethics/)[Trust](https://quotesby.net/W.-C.-Fields/trust/)[Morality](https://quotesby.net/topics/morality/)[Truth](https://quotesby.net/topics/truth/)

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## About this quote

What does it mean?Cheat implies mutual dishonesty; an honest person cannot be cheated alone.In plain termsYou can only cheat someone willing to be cheated.What can you take from it?Honesty protects you from being cheated.

### Where it applies

- deals
- transactions
- ethics

### Putting it to work

- stay honest
- spot greed
- build trust

### Questions to consider

- Can honesty prevent scams?
- Is greed always involved?

### Another view

It blames the victim for being gullible.

## More from W. C. Fields

1. > Yes, if every other form of persuasion fails.

[Permalink to quote \#70](https://quotesby.net/W.-C.-Fields/70/ "Permalink to quote 70")
2. > Here you have some razor blades. And now, play with them!

[Permalink to quote \#72](https://quotesby.net/W.-C.-Fields/72/ "Permalink to quote 72")
3. > Women are like elephants, to me: I like to look at 'em, but I wouldn't want to own one.

[Permalink to quote \#69](https://quotesby.net/W.-C.-Fields/69/ "Permalink to quote 69")

## Related quotes

1. > I have made up my mind that if there is a God, he will be merciful to the merciful. Upon that rock I stand. That he will not torture the forgiving. Upon that r…

[Robert G. Ingersoll](https://quotesby.net/Robert-G.-Ingersoll)[Robert G. Ingersoll quote \#20](https://quotesby.net/Robert-G.-Ingersoll/20/ "Permalink to quote 20")
2. > The highest morality may prove also to be the highest wisdom when the half-told story comes to be finished.

[Arthur Conan Doyle](https://quotesby.net/Arthur-Conan-Doyle)[Arthur Conan Doyle quote \#1](https://quotesby.net/Arthur-Conan-Doyle/1/ "Permalink to quote 1")
3. > The liar's punishment is, not in the least that he is not believed, but that he cannot believe any one else.

[George Bernard Shaw](https://quotesby.net/George-Bernard-Shaw)[George Bernard Shaw quote \#1](https://quotesby.net/George-Bernard-Shaw/1/ "Permalink to quote 1")

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