Final answer:
To complete the sentence appropriately: "Anyone who has been stealing must confront their internal ethical battle and the potential fallout of their actions." The passages provided touch upon themes of theft, the moral dilemmas it engenders, and the justifications or rationalizations individuals may use.
Step-by-step explanation:
To complete, in sentence, the following: "Anyone who has been stealing must grapple with their conscience and the moral consequences of their actions." The concept of theft and the struggle with one's moral values are at the heart of these narratives. They explore the characters' internal conflict about committing theft, questioning whether the ends justify the means, and facing the potential repercussions of their actions, whether it's the threat of being killed for entering a thieves stronghold or the power struggles demonstrated through the theft of a letter of political significance.
From the provided references, we can derive an understanding of the complex nature of theft. Theft often leads to a sharp internal struggle as illustrated by the man sitting on the broken cart-wheel, weighing the consequences of returning stolen money. Others rationalize theft as a means to an end, such as those who 'despoil the hated official class' to aid the poor or the character who confidently steals as a political maneuver. All scenarios present a choice: to return what was taken and face the consequences or to continue down a path that may lead to ever-increasing moral compromise and danger.