“It’s immoral to let a sucker keep his money” (or, “It’s morally wrong to let a sucker keep his money”) has been attributed to “Canada Bill” Jones (?-1880) in 1978, P. T. Barnum (1810-1891) in 1979, and W. C. Fields (1880-1946) in 2002. The gambling saying means that a professional sharp is obligated to take a sucker’s (amateur’s) money.
Wikipedia: Canada Bill Jones
William “Canada Bill” Jones (?-1880) was a noted confidence artist, riverboat gambler and card sharp. He has been described as “without doubt the greatest three-card-monte sharp ever to work the boats, perhaps the greatest of them all.”
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Quotations
“It’s immoral to let a sucker keep his money”
Google News Archive
19 July 1978, Toledo (OH) Blade, “More Famous Favorite Laws Come To Light” by Charles McCabe, pg. 17, col. 2:
Canada Bill Jones’ Motto: It is morally wrong to allow suckers to keep their money.
Google Books
7 September 1978, New Scientist, pg. 744, col. 1:
... and who is this thug Canada Billy Jones whose motto is that it is morally wrong to allow suckers to keep their money?
Google News Archive
1 November 1979, The Times-News (Hendersonville, NC), pg. 22, col. 2 classified ad:
Barnum’s Law:
It is morally wrong to allow suckers to keep their money.
(The Eudy Company—ed.)
14 March 1982, Seattle (WA) Daily Times, “Muddy memories: Racing season nears the starting gate” by Stanley Kramer, pg. A16, col. 2:
Well, I’ve learned. The gaming tables and the $2 windows think it’s morally wrong to let the suckers keep their money.
25 June 1982, Los Angeles (CA) Times, “Morning Briefing,” pg. SD B2:
Add Sleinbrenner: After being introduced as a man who “operates under the P. T. Barnum principle that says it is morally wrong to allow a sucker to keep any of his money,” Steinbrenner said, “Ownership of ports franchises is a big ego trip, and don’t let anybody tell you any differently.”
27 May 1984, Seattle (WA) Daily Times, “Contests: Barnum’s ‘sucker’ adage proven true once again” by Stanley Kramer, pg. A14, col. 6:
I’ve played Vegas often enough to know:
“You never let a sucker keep his money.”
The Internet Movie Database
Memorable quotes for
Rounders (1998)
Mike McDermott: It’s immoral to let a sucker keep his money.
Google Books
500 of the Most Witty, Acerbic & Erudite Things Ever Said About Money
By Philip Jenks
Petersfield, Hampshire: Harriman House Ltd.
2002
Pg. 34:
‘It is morally wrong to allow a sucker to keep his money.’
W. C Fields
The Herald (Scotland)
Monday 18 June 2007
The different brand of bung that exists in Spain . . . or does it?
Mark Wilson on Monday
(...)
As WC Fields once put it, it’s morally wrong to allow a sucker to keep his money.
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
Recent entries:
•“Welcome to growing older. Where all the foods and drinks you’ve loved for years suddenly seem determined to destroy you” (4/17)
•“Date someone who drinks with you instead of complaining that you drink” (4/17)
•“Definition of stupid: Knowing the truth, seeing evidence of the truth, but still believing the lie” (4/17)
•“Definition of stupid: Knowing the truth, seeing the evidence of the truth, but still believing the lie” (4/17)
•“Government creates the crises so it can ‘rescue’ you with the loss of freedom” (4/17)
More new entries...
Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps. Stolen and missing, 2021-2024.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
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