THE MONKEYS AND THE NUTS
A troop of monkeys, having gathered a store of nuts for the winter, begged their Wise Ones to distribute them.
The Wise Ones reserved a good half for themselves, and distributed the remainder amongst the rest of the community, giving to some twenty nuts, to others ten, to others five, and to a considerable number none.
Now, when those to whom twenty had been given complained that the Wise Ones had kept so many for themselves the Wise Ones answered, “Peace, foolish ones, are ye not much better off than those who have ten?” And they were pacified.
And to those who objected, having only ten, they said, “Be satisfied, are there not many who have but five?” and they kept silence. And they answered those who had five, saying, “Nay, but see ye not the number who have none?”
Now when these last made complaint of the unjust division and demanded a share, the Wise Ones stepped forward and exclaimed to those who had twenty, and ten, and five, “Behold the wickedness of these monkeys. Because they have no nuts they are dissatisfied, and would rob you of those which are yours!”
And they all fell on the portionless monkeys and beat them sorely.
Moral. The selfishness of the moderately well-to-do blinds them to the rapacity of the rich.
