"We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office"

This quote by Aesop is a commentary on the hypocrisy of society. It recommends that society wants to harshly punish those who dedicate minor offenses, while those who dedicate more major offenses are rewarded with positions of power and influence. This is an example of the double requirement that exists in many societies, where those with wealth and power are frequently provided preferential treatment. The quote implies that society is more worried with penalizing the little individuals than it is with penalizing the effective. It likewise suggests that society is more concerned with maintaining the status quo than it is with justice. This quote functions as a suggestion that justice need to be used equally to all, despite their social status. It is a suggestion that those in power ought to be held accountable for their actions, which those who devote minor offenses need to not be dealt with more harshly than those who devote more major offenses.