In the Victorian vernacular, a gentleman thief or lady thief (called phantom thief in the East) is a particularly well-behaving and apparently well bred thief. A "gentleman or lady" is usually, but not always, a person with an inherited title of nobility and inherited wealth, who need not work for a living. Such a person steals not in order to gain material wealth, but for adventure; they act without malice. These thieves rarely bother with anonymity or force, preferring to rely on their charisma, physical attractiveness, and clever misdirection to steal the most unobtainable objects — sometimes for their own support, but mostly for the thrill of the act itself.
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Famous quotes containing the words gentleman and/or thief:
“Nominee. A modest gentleman shrinking from the distinction of private life and diligently seeking the honorable obscurity of public office.”
—Ambrose Bierce (18421914)
“I askèd a thief to steal me a peach
He turned up his eyes
I askd a lithe lady to lie her down
Holy & meek she cries
As soon as I went
An angel came.
He winkd at the thief
And smild at the dame
And without one word said
Had a peach from the tree
And still as a maid
Enjoyd the lady.”
—William Blake (17571827)