“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” ~ Leonardo da Vinci (Adopted by Steve Jobs)
The Body’s Members became upset feeling that they were doing all the work, while the Belly received the benefit of all the food.
So, for a few days, they protested; to wit: the Hands refused to take food, the Mouth refused to receive it, and the Teeth had no work to do.
But, then, the effect was only that Hands lacked strength and could hardly move, the Mouth became parched and dry, and the Legs were unable to support the rest of the Body.
So, they discovered that each received its benefit, less directly. The Belly did its work, and that each part shared a mission and needed the other.
Moral of the Story: The obviousness of a contribution is not necessarily the sole criterion for determining the worth of contribution. Each part to its purpose for the good of the whole, with appurtenant benefits and burdens.
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Introduction – The Essential Aesop – Epilogue
Related Articles: Teamwork – Business of Aesop™ No. 4 – The Donkey and the Mule;
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Why We Loved It: This fable has a bit of a different tone than many of Aesop’s other fables, such as The Donkey and the Mule, but provides the lesson in an approachable and obvious manner. The teamwork lesson of the The Donkey and the Mule focused on the balance of the team load to a greater mission; that is, one team member not “pulling the load.” This fable focuses more on “who is getting the glory” or the benefits.
We are reminded that our beautiful automobile needs the lowly tire, and our body can be taken out of service by a splinter the size of a hair.
In nature, all is harmonized to cause and effect, and we are wise to take notice of it. The lion is predator and the gazelle is prey: each to its own advantage—one is not to be judged as perhaps better, but only that both are perhaps necessary. No little bees? Well, you know…
“It may be only an ant’s life. But, I suppose to the ant, it’s a rather important thing.” ~Abraham Lincoln
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© 2013 Arnold Zegarelli and Gregg Zegarelli, Esq. Gregg can be contacted through LinkedIn. Arnold Zegarelli can be contacted through Facebook.
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