"Thou shalt not steal. I mean defensively. On offense, indeed thou shall steal and thou must"

In this quote, Branch Rickey is referencing the biblical rule "Thou shalt not take" and using it to the video game of baseball. He is recommending that while taking is prohibited in a defensive sense, it is needed and even encouraged in an offending sense. Simply put, he is stating that it is appropriate and even expected for players to steal bases and take dangers in order to get an advantage for their group. This quote highlights the tactical and competitive nature of the sport, where players need to want to take calculated threats in order to succeed.