Siman 198

(14.) He gave a parable concerning the well-known people who enter his presence, who are wise in their own eyes. They related before him several foolish stories found in their books. He said: “Soon they will exhaust everything, for quickly they will have nothing left to tell.” He then gave a fine parable: They tell of a man who encountered a robber who wanted to rob him. The robber asked him: “Do you have money?” He replied: “Certainly I have money. I will give you all my money in exchange for my life.” And the robber took everything from him. Afterwards, the robbed man said to the robber: “How can I return home without money? I have wandered away from home for so long, and now how can I return home empty-handed? Therefore, I ask you to shoot your firearm at my hat, so that it will be evident that I was attacked by a robber.” And the robber did so. Then he asked him to shoot at several other places as well. At last, the robber replied: “I have no more powder [gunpowder].” When he replied that he had no powder left, the robbed man answered: “Now that you have no more powder, come here!” He seized him by the nape, called his companions, overpowered the robber, and defeated him. The meaning was understood by the listeners who stood at that gathering when he told this parable.