Kindness is more persuasive than force.
If these town gods can't detect the thieves who steal from their own temples, it's hardly likely they'll tell me who stole my spade.
One who steals has no right to complain if he is robbed.
Clumsy jesting is no joke.
We should use our judgment before coming to a decision.
An oak and a reed were arguing about their strength. When a strong wind came up, the reed avoided being uprooted by bending and leaning with the gusts of wind. But the oak stood firm and was torn up by the roots.