The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread.

- Anatole France

That is where you start getting into the ethical debate. I think it depends on whether you see things as black or white or having grey areas. Obviously stealing is wrong. But if your kids were starving and you went into a grocery store and stole just enough food for them to eat, is what you are doing ethically wrong? In some sense yes, but if your rationale is strictly to feed your child maybe it is doing the wrong thing for the right reason.

I have a code of ethics that I live by, and admittedly, I would have a hard time with stealing. But if my child was starving, I would not hesitate. I also would have to live with the consequences of my actions if I were caught- but it would be worth it.

No matter what, we dont steal.

You do what you have to do.

If I absolutely had to... Yes.

If it comes down to survival, yes. Look at the animal kingdom, the primary urge is always survival, usually by any means possible. A person who has to feed their kids or who has to satisfy their own physical hunger is going to get it satisfied. Death of course is the only other option.

I'd rather not.I've been through some very hard times and managed to get by without resorting to theft,but I suppose if there was no other way I'd have no choice.

To 'survive'? Strange question because we usually equate thievery with luxury items (car, jewelry, et.al.) and not biological 'survival'. . .phrased like that, of course I would. . .

Hard to say, but, I think most people would do anything to survive, providing it does no real harm to others.

It would be a hard choice. but if we were starving and we had no other means. i may have no other choice. it would not be something I would want to do. I doubt if many people would want to. I could never let my kids be hungry.

I did. I don't want to bore people with my story repeating it many times than one wants to hear it, but stealing saved my life.