proverb · Words worth keeping
Do not steal a loaf from him that kneads and bakes.
Do not steal a loaf from him that kneads and bakes.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Taking the product of someone’s work without permission wrongs the person who makes it. The kneading and baking bring the labour behind the loaf into view, rather than treating the finished thing as ownerless.
Example
A participant asks before using a colleague’s prepared workshop materials and agrees how the colleague’s contribution will be acknowledged.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The loaf is connected to the person who kneads and bakes it. That connection draws attention to effort that can become invisible once an object is ready for use. In a broader comparison, respect the permission and acknowledgement appropriate to another person’s work. The saying does not supply a complete rule about ownership, hunger or emergencies, and it is not legal guidance. Its useful reminder is to notice the maker rather than treating access to a finished result as sufficient reason to take it.
When to use it
Use it to recognise the maker’s work and seek appropriate permission before taking its result.
Keep in mind
The saying is not a legal rule or a judgement on every emergency; consider the specific circumstances and rights.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional (Spanish-language collection)
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown