The Criminal 
by Gibran Khalil Gibran

A young man of strong body, weakened by hunger, sat on the walker's portion of the street
stretching his hand toward all who passed, begging and repeating his hand toward all who
passed, begging and repeating the sad song of his defeat in life, while suffering from hunger
and from humiliation. 

When night came, his lips and tongue were parched, while his hand was still as empty as his
stomach. He gathered himself and went out from the city, where he sat under a tree and wept
bitterly. Then he lifted his puzzled eyes to heaven while hunger was eating his inside, and he
said, "Oh Lord, I went to the rich man and asked for employment, but he turned me away
because of my shabbiness; I knocked at the school door, but was forbidden solace because I
was empty- handed; I sought any occupation that would give me bread, but all to no avail. In
desperation I asked alms, but Thy worshippers saw me and said "He is strong and lazy, and he
should not beg." 


"Oh Lord, it is Thy will that my mother gave birth unto me, and now the earth offers me back
to You before the Ending." 
His expression then changed. He arose and his eyes now glittered in determination. He
fashioned a thick and heavy stick from the branch of the tree, and pointed it toward the city,
shouting, "I asked for bread with all the strength of my voice, and was refused. Not I shall
obtain it by the strength of my muscles! I asked for bread in the name of mercy and love, but
humanity did not heed. I shall take it now in the name of evil!" 

The passing years rendered the youth a robber, killer and destroyer of souls; he crushed all
who opposed him; he amassed fabulous wealth with which he won himself over to those in
power. He was admired by colleagues, envied by other thieves, and feared by the multitudes. 

His riches and false position prevailed upon the Emir to appoint him deputy in that city - the
sad process pursued by unwise govenors. Thefts were then legalized; oppression was
supported by authority; crushing of the weak became commonplace; the throngs curried and
praised. 

Thus does the first touch of humanity's selfishness make criminals of the humble, and make
killers of the sons of peace; 
thus does the early greed of humanity grow and strike back athumanity a thousandfold!