The Farmer and the Snake

A snake crawled into a farmer's house and asked for shelter. The snake begged the farmer to give him a job because he didn't want a free lunch.

"I know," said the snake. "Men have always had a prejudice against us. They regard us as extremely harmful animals. We are often told that we are ungrateful, unkind to our friends and relatives, and that we often eat our children. In fact, I have never done such a thing, I have always been very friendly to my relatives, friends, and never hurt anyone! If we snakes could live without fangs, I'd have my teeth pulled out. Think it over, dear farmer. Perhaps there is no snake in the world more benevolent than I am. How wonderful it would be if I were to take care of your children!"

"Whether you are telling the truth or not," said the farmer, "I'm sorry, but I can't give you shelter. If my neighbors hear what you've done, there will be hundreds of poisonous snakes in here, and by then, our children will be dead. I must tell you that a good snake is better than no snake at all."

Bad guys may deceive us with nice words at any time, we should have our own correct judgment. Otherwise, you will only make yourself hurt.

农夫和蛇

一条蛇爬进一个农夫的屋子,请求农夫收留它。蛇恳求农夫给它份工作,因为它不想吃免费的午餐。

“我知道,”蛇说,“人类总是对我们有偏见,都把我们当成极其有害的动物。人们总是说我们不懂得感激,对自己的亲戚、朋友也不够厚道,甚至还说我们经常吃掉自己的子女。事实上,我可没有做过这样的事情,我一直都很友善地对待我的亲戚、朋友,也不曾伤害过任何人!如果我们蛇类没有毒牙也能生存的话,我情愿把自己的牙齿拔掉。亲爱的农夫,请你认真想想吧,也许这世上再也没有比我更加慈善的蛇了。如果由我来照顾你的孩子,那将是多么美好的一件事啊!”

“不管你说的是不是实话,”农夫说道,“很抱歉,我还是不能收留你。一旦我的邻居听到了你做的好事,就会有成百上千条毒蛇跑到这里来,那个时候,我们的孩子都要完蛋了。我必须告诉你一个道理:有条再好的蛇,也不如没有蛇好。”

坏人在任何时候都有可能用好听的话蒙蔽我们,我们应该有自己的正确判断。否则,只会使自己受到伤害。