On Showing Mercy to the Weak

By religious law, drinking water is no sin, yet if a proper ruling calls for it, even shedding blood is allowed. If the law issues a verdict of death for someone, only then may you kill him without fear of guilt. And if you know he has family in his line, have pity on them and bring them comfort. The crime belonged to the man who did the wrong; why should his helpless wife and child pay the price? Your body is strong and your army is vast, but do not go rampaging through the enemy's land. For he will flee to some high fortress, while a blameless country takes the harm. Look closely at the state of prisoners, for among them there may well be the innocent. When a merchant dies within your borders, to lay hands on his goods is a vile theft. For after they weep bitterly over him, his kin and relatives will say to one another: That poor man died in a foreign land, and the tyrant carried off whatever he left behind. Think of that little fatherless child, and beware the sigh from his grieving heart. A good name of fifty years, often, a single ugly name will trample into the dust. Those praised for their deeds, whose names live forever, never seized the property of ordinary people. Even if a man is king over the whole world, once he takes wealth from the rich, he is a beggar. The free-hearted man died in poverty, but never filled his belly at the poor man's expense.