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Consensus Decision-making/39 not be able to agree as to the means to be adopted in each case. I myself seem clearly to see what should be done in all these cases, but the remedy may frighten you. I therefore hesitate to place it belore you. For the time being I will leave you to guess it, and if You cannot, it is clear you will have to adopt different means in cach case. You will also have seen that any means will not avail. lo drive away the thief. You will have to adopt means to fit each case. Hence it follows that your duty is not to drive away the thief by any means you like. Let us proceed a little further. That well-armed man has stoTen your property: you have harboured the thought of his act; you are filled with anger; you argue that you want to punish that rogue, hot for your own sake, but for the good of your neighbours; you have collected a number of armed men, you want to take his house by assault; he is duly informed of it, he runs away; he too is incensed. He collects his brother robbers, and sends you a defiant message that he will commit robbery in broad daylight. You are Strong, you do not fear him, you are prepared to receive him. Meanwhile the robber pesters your neighbours. They complain before you. You reply that you are doing all for their sake; you o not mind that your own goods have been stolen. Your neighbours reply that the robber never pestered them before, and that he commenced his depredations only after you declared hostilities against him. You are between Scylla and Charybdis. You are full of pity for the poor men. What they say is true. What are you to do? You will be disgraced if you now leave the robber wone. You, therefore, tell the poor men: "Never mind. Come, my Wealth is yours. I will give you arms, I will teach you how to use them; you should belabour the rogue; don't you leave him alone." so the battle grows: the robbers increase in numbers; your neighbors have deliberately put themselves to inconvenience. us the result of wanting to take revenge upon the robber is that you have disturbed your own peace; you are in perpetual fear of being robbed and assaulted; your courage has given place to cowwalce. If you will patiently examine the argument, you will see Thus ardic
