Counsel without help is useless.
小偷和他的母亲
The Thief and His Mother
有个小男孩在学校里偷了同学的课本，并把课本带回家交给了母亲。母亲非但没有责罚他，反而鼓励他。下一次，他偷了一件外衣仍然交给了母亲，母亲对他给予了更多的鼓励。在母亲的鼓舞下，成年之后的男孩偷了更多更有价值的东西回来。终于有一天，他被当场抓获，进行公开处决。
这一天，小偷的母亲在人群中捶胸顿足，非常伤心。这时，小偷向法官求情，希望在临死之前能和母亲说几句悄悄话。等到母亲走近，他突然用力衔住了母亲的耳朵，撕了下来。疼痛的母亲大声斥责小偷大逆不道。小偷回答说：“如果你在我第一次偷课本回来的那次就能狠狠地教训我一顿，我也不会有今天这么可耻的下场。”
年幼时接受的教育对人格的塑造很重要。
A Boy stole a lesson-book from one of his schoolfellows and took it home to his Mother. She not only abstained from beating him，but encouraged him. He next time stole a cloak and brought it to her，and she again commended him. The youth，advanced to adulthood，proceeded to steal things of still greater value. At last he was caught in the very act，and having his hands bound behind him，was led away to the place of public execution.