> =============================================================
> 
> True, but Bilbo didn't take the ring from Gollum.  He found it on the tunnel
> floor.  Gollum never actually claimed it, either, he just couldn't find it in
> his hidey hole and figured (correctly) that Bilbo had it and tried to kill
> him.  Can't really blame Bilbo for not giving it back at that point.  I doubt
> that I would have . . .
> 
> Russ, the waterweasel
> 

But Bilbo WAS hired specifically to be a thief.  From picking up something on
the floor and keeping it, even knowing it 'belonged' to someone else (who
himself stole it) to actual thievery from a dragon (who also stole his hoard
from the dwarves)... it's almost like Biblo is a sanctioned thief, because the
beings from whom he steals are much 'worse'.  

darkelf, pickin' on da hobbit

=====
Obsequium parit amicos; veritas parit odium.  - Cicero
(Compliance produces friends; truth produces hate.)

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