Famous quote by Ronald Biggs

"I used to have a list of things from my school buddies of what kind of art material they wanted. I'd go up to the West End of London and spend the whole day knocking stuff off"

About this Quote

Ronald Biggs recalls a mischievous routine from his youth, describing how he would collect requests for art supplies from his school friends and then travel to London’s West End to fulfill those orders. The phrase “knocking stuff off” stands out as typical British slang for stealing, indicating that his day in the city was not spent shopping in the conventional sense but rather involved theft. This casual confession to petty larceny reflects an early comfort with criminal behavior and hints at the kind of daring and resourcefulness that would later characterize Biggs’s life.

His portrayal of these acts is almost matter-of-fact, lacking shame or moral reflection. By specifying that he gathered a “list” of items, Biggs demonstrates an element of organization and entrepreneurial spirit, albeit directed toward illegitimate ends. The behavior suggests both social bonds, helping out friends by providing something they desired, at personal risk, and a sense of thrill or adventure derived from outsmarting authority. There is a certain youthful camaraderie in taking orders from his peers, reinforcing his role within a group dynamic where status might be earned through bravado as much as generosity.

The setting, London’s West End, is noteworthy not just as a bustling center rife with opportunity, but also as a space where a young, working-class schoolboy could blend in and go unnoticed amidst the crowds. Biggs’s ability to “spend the whole day” engaged in these activities suggests either a lack of supervision or a family environment where absence might go unremarked. It’s easy to imagine how a pattern of minor theft could evolve into more serious criminal ambitions, especially if early endeavors met with success and social approval.

Ultimately, Biggs’s anecdote provides a candid glimpse of how petty crime can arise from a blend of youthful ambition, group identity, and opportunity, laying the foundation for a much larger criminal career.

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About the Author

Ronald Biggs This quote is from Ronald Biggs somewhere between August 8, 1929 and today. He was a famous Celebrity from United Kingdom. The author also have 12 other quotes.
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