# Quote — Ben Aaronovitch, Moon Over Soho

> Five hundred years ago the notoriously savvy Henry VIII discovered an elegant way to solve both his theological problems and his personal liquidity crisis—he dissolved the monasteries and nicked all their land. Since the principle of any rich person who wants to stay rich is, never give anything away unless you absolutely have to, the land has stayed with Crown ever since.

- Author: [Ben Aaronovitch](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch.md)
- Book: [Moon Over Soho](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch/moon-over-soho.md)
- Page: 76
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Ben_Aaronovitch#Moon_Over_Soho_(2011)) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch/moon-over-soho/five-hundred-years

## More from this book

> “The old days,” said Smith. “Isn’t that what you’re asking about? Because I was a respectable businessman.”
>
> “But Smithy,” said Stephanopoulis. “I don’t believe in respectable businessmen. I’ve been a copper for more than five minutes. And the constable here doesn’t think you’re respectable either, because it happens he is a card-carrying member of the Workers’ Revolutionary Party and so regards all forms of property as a crime against the proletariat.”
>
> That one caught me by surprise and the best I could manage was “Power to the people.”

p. 183 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch/moon-over-soho/the-old-days.md)

> I rang her and left a message identifying myself and giving an impression of urgency without actually saying anything concrete. Never record anything you wouldn’t want turning up on YouTube is my motto.

p. 75 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch/moon-over-soho/i-rang-her.md)

> First law of gossip—there’s no point knowing something if somebody else doesn’t know you know it.

p. 239 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch/moon-over-soho/first-law-of-gossip-theres.md)