"'Tis bad enough in man or woman To steal a goose from off a common; But surely he's without excuse Who steals a common from the goose."
— Theft

January 1, 1970

Quote Details

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Added on April 10, 2026
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Crime
Original Language: English

Sources

Epigram in Carey's Commonplace Book of Epigrams (1872). Different versions of the same were prompted by the Enclosure Acts. One version given in Sabrinæ Corolla was written when Charles Pratt, first Earl of Camden, took a common strip of land in front of Camden House. Oct. 7, 1764.