English Original
There is a story of a thief who supported his family by stealing from travelers. Realizing his actions were unethical, he desperately sought help from a holy man, confessing he knew no other way to provide for his family yet longed to change.
The holy man agreed to help, saying, "I won't ask you to stop stealing. Instead, try adopting one virtue to hold on to in your life."
The thief promised to always tell the truth, no matter what.
A few days later, he was caught red-handed. During his trial, the king learned of his commitment to truth. Appreciating this precious virtue, the king appointed him as the kingdom's treasurer. The thief soon discovered that embracing truth helped him adopt other virtues with ease, leading to a respectable and virtuous life.
中文翻译
有一个关于小偷的故事，他靠偷窃旅客的钱财来养家糊口。当他意识到自己的行为不道德时，他绝望地向一位圣人求助，坦言自己不知道除了偷窃还能如何养家，但又极度渴望改变人生轨迹。
圣人同意帮助他，说道：“我不会要求你停止偷窃。但你可以试着在生活中坚守一种美德。”
小偷承诺，无论如何都将永远说实话。
几天后，他在行窃时被当场抓获。审判期间，国王得知了他对诚实的坚守。国王赏识这一宝贵美德，任命他为王国的财政官。这个小偷很快发现，坚守诚实让他能相对轻松地养成其他美德，最终过上了受人尊敬、品德高尚的生活。