The morality of the well-fed.

I had an interesting conversation today. One that left me questioning everything I thought I knew about morality.

I was speaking with someone I know. A person of impeccable integrity. The kind whose work ethic puts most of us to shame. But they are going through an unimaginably tough time. The kind of hardship that makes survival itself feel like a full-time job.

I asked them a simple question:

“If you could steal ₹10,000 crore and get away with it, guaranteed 100%, would you do it?”

I was expecting some hesitation. Maybe a moral dilemma. Some justification about how they would take the money but use it for good. That was my setup. My follow-up was ready:

“If you could steal ₹100 and get away with it, guaranteed 100%, would you do it?”

And then the punchline (when they refuse to steal ₹100 because, morality!):

“You are not honest. You just have not yet had the opportunity to be offered your price.”

But before I could spring my philosophical trap, they looked me dead in the eye and said something that shut me up instantly:

“Tell me one reason why my hungry, crying children do not deserve me taking the deal.”

I had nothing. Not one argument.

Because here is the truth. If my loved ones were starving, I would steal. I would beg. I would kill. And I would not even blink. I would not sit and ponder moral philosophy. I would not waste time debating ethics.

Which brings me to the real question.

Is morality just a luxury of the well-fed?