(...) Alexander was sailing with a powerful Armada in the Eritrean Sea conquering India, and because a pirate was brought to his presence, who was robbing fishermen in those waters, Alexander admonished him for having such an evil trade; but he, who was not scared nor slow of mind, answered thus: 'Enough, my lord! I, who rob with one ship, am a thief, and you, who rob with an Armada, are an emperor?' And so it is. Robbing a bit is guilt, robbing a lot is greatness; robbing with not much power makes the pirates, robbing with a lot of it makes the Alexanders. (...)
in Father Antonio Vieira's "Sermon of the Good Thief," 1655
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Translated by António Dinis Lopes
