Monthly Archives: August 2013
133.The Flea and the Man
A MAN, very much annoyed with a flea, caught him at last, and said, “Who are you who dare to feed on my limbs, and to cost me so much trouble in catching you?”
The flea replied, “My dear sir, pray spare my life, and destroy me not, for I cannot possibly do you much harm.”
The man, laughing, replied, “Now you shall certainly die by my own hands, for no evil, whether it be small or large, ought to be tolerated.”
❖ Traditional ways of approaching things (and flies) should lead to the best solutions.
❖ Energetic resolves depend on ensuing activity.
132.Sorrow is always the twin sister of joy
SOME FISHERMEN were out trawling their nets. Perceiving them to be very heavy, they danced about for joy and supposed that they had taken a large catch. When they had dragged the nets to the shore they found but few fish: the nets were full of sand and stones. The men, who had formed such high expectations, were extra downcast for them. And then one of their company, an old man, said,
“Let us cease lamenting, my mates, for, as it seems to me, sorrow is always the twin sister of joy; and it was only to be looked for that we, who just now were over-rejoiced, should next have something to make us sad.”
❖ You cannot always tell what’s in the package by its cover
❖ Correspondingly, we cannot always tell what’s in the net by its weight alone.
131.The Fisherman Piping
A FISHERMAN skilled in music, took his flute and his nets to the seashore. Standing on a projecting rock, he played several tunes. By that he hoped that the fish would be attracted by his melody and of their own accord dance into his net where he had placed it below somewhere.
At last, after waiting long in vain, he laid aside his flute, and cast his net into the sea. Then he made an excellent haul of fish. When he saw them leaping about in the net on the rock he said:
“You funny creatures. When I piped, you would not dance. But now that I have ceased, you do it merrily.”
❖ Caught fish isn’t merry: Not everyone that dances needs a happy tune.
❖ The problem is one of faulty method. To blame one’s faulty ways on others can reveal stubborn stupidity as well.
“WHEN YOU ARE IN A MAN’S POWER YOU MUST DO AS HE BIDS YOU.”
130.The Fisherman and the Little Fish
A FISHERMAN who lived on the produce of his nets, one day caught a single small fish as the result of his day’s labour. The fish, panting convulsively, thus begged for his life:
“Oh, what good can I be to you, and how little am I worth? I am not yet come to my full size. Pray spare my life, and put me back into the sea. I shall soon become a large fish fit for the tables of the rich, and then you can catch me again, and make a handsome profit of me.”
The fisherman replied,
“I would be a simple fellow if I were to forego my present certain gain for the chance of a greater, but uncertain profit.”
❖ A fine fairy-tale could have taken another direction at that point –
❖ He labours in vain who tries to please everybody.
