A man making phone calls for a local charity contacted a prominent and wealthy lawyer, requesting a modest donation.
The lawyer was incensed by the request. "I bet you didn't know," he said, "that just last week, my wife needed major surgery, and the insurance didn't cover it."
The caller began to apologize, but the lawyer cut him off. "And last month, my mother passed away. We had to arrange an expensive funeral."
Again, the caller tried to apologize for the solicitation and expressed condolences.
"Then, also last month," the lawyer continued, "my son fell seriously ill and nearly died... and my daughter needed plastic surgery for a congenital facial defect."
Once more, the caller felt terrible, regretted bothering him, and offered another apology.
To which the lawyer finally responded, "And if I didn't give any money to them, why should I give any to you?"