What does the proverb 'Abandon fait larron' mean?
The French proverb means 'opportunity makes the thief' — neglecting to guard one's goods leads others into temptation. Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), human-proofread transcription on English Wikisource records: “As opportunity makes the thief, the person who neglects to take proper care of his goods, leads into temptation, hence the proverb, "Neglect leads to theft."”
Origin
- Verbatim from Brewer's (1898): As opportunity makes the thief, the person who neglects to take proper care of his goods, leads into temptation, hence the proverb, "Neglect leads to theft."
How to use it
- Modern usage: The French proverb means 'opportunity makes the thief' — neglecting to guard one's goods leads others into temptation.
- When quoting the origin, cite Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898) — this is a 19th-century record, not a modern etymology.
Source:
Last verified: 2026-07-18
- Definitions and origins are drawn from public-domain reference works, primarily Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), with modern usage notes clearly marked.