lying is the first step to stealing; show me a liar, and I will show you a thief
A proverb warning that habitual lying can lead to more serious wrongdoing like theft. Often used to admonish children or to comment on moral decline.
They say 'lying is the first step to stealing,' so don't tell even small lies.
He often lies, and I think the saying 'lying leads to stealing' is true.
A proverb meaning 'lying can be a means to an end,' suggesting that lying is sometimes acceptable, in contrast to the absolute condemnation of lying in 嘘つきは泥棒の始まり.
Standard kanji-kana mixed spelling for this proverb.
Variant using the kanji 吐 for つく; less common but still seen.
Kana spelling for the first part; often used in children's contexts or when avoiding kanji.
Variant with 始まり in kana; common in informal writing.
A traditional Japanese proverb. The exact origin is uncertain, but it reflects a common moral teaching that dishonesty in small matters can escalate to serious crimes.