The Dervish and the Offensive Stranger by Mark Twain. Short summary

5 seconds

The dervish said that there are good and bad actions. The stranger claimed that every intention has good and bad results. He gives examples of this.

1 minute

A dialogue between Dervish, who argues that there are good and bad actions, and a defiant stranger. The latter denies such a simplistic approach to morality. He says that there are good and bad intentions that do not necessarily lead to the expected consequences.

The dervish says that if he now kills the stranger, it will be a bad act. The man replied that it’s up to him to see: he will be free from earthly vanity, his heirs will receive a large fortune, and the place of the imprisoned Dervish will be taken by his contented assistant. But there are bad consequences: The Dervish will be tormented in prison with remorse, and the hearts of the people who love the Stranger will be broken.

The Stranger cites examples from history. The discovery of Columbus enriched poor Europeans, but ruined or destroyed Indian tribes altogether. The French Revolution drenched the country in blood, but democratic change came about because of it.