Parable of the Work Horses

Origin: Fables by Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910)

Two horses were carrying two loads.

The front horse went well, but the rear horse was lazy. The men began to pile the rear horse’s load on the front horse; when they had transferred it all, the rear horse found it easy going, and he said to the front horse: “Toil and sweat! The more you try, the more you suffer” …

Parable of the Monk and the Scorpion

Origin: Ancient Zen Parable

One day, a Monk was walking alongside a stream when he saw a Scorpion struggling in the water. Knowing that scorpions cannot swim, he knelt down to scoop it out of the water…

Parable: The Emperor Has No Clothes

Origin: Hans Christian Andersen (1837)

Many years ago there was an Emperor so exceedingly fond of new clothes that he spent all his money on being well dressed..