Small Plunderer Big Plunderer - Prabhupada 0169
741202 - Lecture SB 03.25.32 - Bombay
The Alexander arrested one thief. So when he explained, ""My dear sir, Alexander, so what is the difference between you and me? I am also plunderer, you are also plunderer. I am a small plunderer, you are a big plunderer. So where is the difference in quality?"" So Alexander the Great, he was very sensible. He released him, ""Yes, there is no difference."" So to become a big thief, big plunderer, does not mean that he is advanced. Similarly, our sense, for personal sense gratification or my family's sense gratification or my nation's sense gratification—that is sense gratification; that is not spiritual activity. That is material activity.
So long you will have desire for sense gratification, localized or expanded, the quality does not change. The quality will change when this sense gratification will be transferred to Kṛṣṇa, not sense gratification for me, for my family, for my society, for my nation.