Imagine a scammer being conned out of his own money. Or a thief discovering that someone has stolen from him. For many people, the immediate reaction is not sympathy but satisfaction. There is even a proverb for that feeling: “Ladrão que rouba ladrão tem cem anos de perdão”.Literally translated, it means “A thief who robs a thief has a hundred years of pardon.” It is one of the most enduring proverbs in the Portuguese-speaking world, heard in Portugal, Brazil and other Lusophone communities. On the surface, it sounds like a licence for revenge. In reality, it reveals something deeper about how societies think about justice, fairness and moral responsibility.
What does the proverb mean?
The saying is used when someone commits a questionable act against a person who is themselves guilty of wrongdoing. In popular understanding, the second offender is seen as less blameworthy because the victim has already harmed others. The act is viewed as a form of payback or poetic justice rather than a straightforward crime.The proverb does not mean that theft becomes legal or morally correct. Rather, it reflects a common human instinct: people are often less troubled when misfortune befalls someone who has caused harm to others. As Portuguese language scholars note, the saying is generally used when someone believes a wrongdoer should not suffer severe consequences for acting against another criminal.
A proverb with uncertain origins
Like many traditional proverbs, its exact origin is difficult to trace. There is no universally accepted author or source. Researchers consider it part of the broader folk tradition of the Iberian Peninsula, where versions of the saying exist in both Portuguese and Spanish.One popular explanation links it to the tale of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves from One Thousand and One Nights. In that story, Ali Baba discovers the treasure of a band of thieves and ultimately benefits from their ill-gotten wealth. Many commentators see the tale as reflecting the same moral logic contained in the proverb.Another theory associates the expression with the English privateer Sir Francis Drake, who attacked Spanish ships carrying treasure. Some later writers suggested that the phrase gained popularity through stories portraying such actions as justified because the victims themselves were viewed as exploiters. However, this explanation is less firmly documented than the proverb’s broader folk origins.
Why ‘a hundred years’ of pardon?
The number is not meant to be taken literally. In traditional proverbs, large numbers often serve as exaggerations. “A hundred years” symbolises a very long period of forgiveness rather than an actual sentence of absolution.The point is rhetorical. The proverb suggests that society may be unusually willing to excuse someone who turns the tables on a wrongdoer. It captures popular sentiment rather than legal reality. After all, courts do not generally exempt crimes simply because the victim has committed crimes too.
The philosophy behind the saying
At its heart, the proverb touches on a timeless question: Is revenge ever justified?Many philosophical and religious traditions have wrestled with this issue. The proverb leans towards a rough form of moral balancing. If someone who has harmed others suffers a similar fate, many people instinctively feel that justice has been served.Yet the saying also exposes the dangers of that mindset. If everyone decides to punish wrongdoers on their own terms, society risks descending into cycles of retaliation. Modern legal systems are built on the idea that justice should be administered through laws and institutions rather than personal vengeance.This tension is precisely what gives the proverb its lasting power. It captures a feeling that many people recognise, even if they do not fully endorse it.
How it is used today
The proverb remains remarkably relevant in the digital age.It frequently appears in discussions about fraudsters being scammed, cybercriminals being hacked, or corrupt individuals falling victim to similar schemes. On social media, users often invoke the phrase when a person known for dishonest behaviour experiences a setback caused by another dishonest actor.Importantly, the expression is often used with humour or irony. People may quote it not because they genuinely support theft, but because they find a particular situation darkly amusing. The proverb has become a shorthand way of saying: “It is difficult to feel sorry for someone who has done the same thing to others.”
A mirror of human nature
What makes “Ladrão que rouba ladrão tem cem anos de perdão” endure is not its endorsement of theft. Rather, it reflects a universal human response to perceived fairness.Most people believe wrongdoing should have consequences. When those consequences arrive through unexpected means, especially from another wrongdoer, the result can seem strangely satisfying. The proverb gives voice to that reaction.At the same time, it serves as a reminder that popular morality and formal justice are not always the same thing. Society may cheer when a thief is robbed, but the law generally views both acts as wrong.More than a colourful saying, the proverb offers a glimpse into how people have understood justice for centuries. It survives because it captures a contradiction that remains as relevant today as ever: we condemn wrongdoing, yet we are often tempted to applaud it when it happens to the “right” target.
