Aesop spoke in the public assembly at Samos when a demagogue was being tried for his life.
"A fox which was crossing a river," he said, "was carried into a deep qully, and all his efforts to get out were unavailing."
Besides all the other suffering that he had to endure, he was tormented by a swarm of ticks which fastened on him.
A hedgehog which came that way on its travels was sorry for him and asked if it should pick off the ticks.
'No, please don't,' replied the fox.
'Why not?' said the hedgehog.
'Because they have already made a good meal on me, and don't suck much blood now.
But if you take them away, another lot will come, all hungry, and drain every drop of blood I have left.'
"It is the same with you, men of Samos," said Aesop.
"This man will do you no more harm, for he is rich. But if you kill him, others will come who are still hungry,
and they will go on stealing until they have emptied your treasury."