During the time that the two Shapiro brothers of Slovita, Rav Shmuel Avraham Abba and Rav Pinchos, were jailed the warden came and explained that the rule was that such a terrible crime that they were imprisoned for called for a harsh sentence; the cell that they would be held in was forbidden to have a window. They were forbidden from having any light whatsoever! Upon hearing such a harsh pronouncement, that they would be held in a dank dark gloomy cell, with no light or air, Rav Shmuel Abba was thoroughly downcast. Seeing this, his brother Rav Pinchos turned to him and said: Why is the evil one - the yetzer hara called a king and an old fool? (Koheles 4:13 Rashi). Is he not wise? Does he not make fools out of others?! Rather, the truth is that he is in fact a fool! See here, look at us, we are jailed and imprisoned by decree of the Czar! However, the evil one, the yetzer hara, what is he doing here together with us in this prison, who put him in jail?! Rav Shmuel Abba understood the rapport, this despondancy and sadness was none other than the evil yetzer hara's doing, he caused Rav Shmuel Abba's feelings of depression and not the jail warden's words. No sooner did he realize this then his calm and good mood were restored! (Shemuos Tovos 44:2 cited by Likkutei Imrei Pinchos Sha'ar Sippurim 123)
