Short Story: That’s Different

A man with an ax flew by Socrates, chasing another man:

 

“Stop him ! Stop him !” cried he of the weapon. “He’s a murderer! ”

 

But the old sage wasn’t taking any chances, and jogged on imperturbably.

 

“You fool! ” quoth he of the ax. “Why didn’t you stop him ? He’s a murderer, I tell you! ”

 

“A murderer! What’s a murderer ? ”

 

“Fool! One that kills, of course.”

 

“Ah ! a butcher.”

 

“No, idiot! That’s different. One that kills a man.”

 

“Oh ! Ah, a soldier.”

 

“No! No! That’s different altogether. One that kills a man in times of peace ! ”

 

“A hangman! ”

 

“No! No ! No! That’s different. One that kills a man in bis house ! ”

 

“A doctor, then! ”

 

“No! No! No! No! No! That’s different.” 

 

Running along after him (2,000 years after) comes another man with flaming eyes: ‘‘Stop him! Stop him!” he cries, pointing to something he sees, or thinks he sees, ahead of him. “Stop him! He’s a Socialist! “

 

“A Socialist! What’s a Socialist? ”

 

“Why a believer in state industries, of course.”

 

“Oh, I see ? The railways, post offices, customs, drains, and all that.”

 

“No, that’s different! I mean competing against private enterprise.”

 

“Oh ! schools, universities, and the like.”

 

“No! No! That’s different. I mean state trading . The fellows that expect everything done for them by the state ! A loafer that wants to share the earnings of the industrious workers! ”

 

“Ah ! Ah ! A nobleman who has inherited land.”

 

“No ! No! That’s different. I mean—.”