If you rob too much from one person, it becomes murder. If…
““If you rob too much from one person, it becomes murder. If you steal little by little, it looks like business. Just find a way to refine it. The Internet has made it possible to connect to the whole world via one platform. Steal a penny from each person, call it service charge and you will be a millionaire. The volume makes a difference.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Large-scale micro‑theft can be rationalized as a service fee, turning tiny losses into huge profit through volume.
In simple terms: Stealing tiny amounts from many can seem like a business.
Key Takeaway
Beware of aggregating small harms into big injustice.
Themes
ethics
economics
technology
justice
scale
Mood
critical
contemplative
cautionary
Type
advice
philosophical
warning
When to use this quote
- online marketplaces
- subscription models
- advertising
- crowdfunding
- gig economy
Key Concepts
micro‑theft
network effects
moral hazard
platform capitalism
Questions to Reflect On
- Is it ethical to profit from tiny losses to many?
- How does scale change our perception of wrongdoing?
A Different Perspective
Such practices exploit trust and can erode societal norms.