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The Cicada, the Preying Mantis and the Sparrow

April 15, 2008 on 12:40 pm | In Snippets |

“Plan of Invasion”

The prince of Wu decided to attack the state of Chu. He gave a stern warning to his subjects that anyone who raised objections would be put to death.

One of his stewards wanted to protest, but dared not. Instead, he took a catapult and pellets and wandered in the back courtyard until his clothes were wet with dew. He did this for three mornings.

Come here, ordered the prince. “What are you doing to make your clothes wet with dew?”
“There is a tree in the garden,” replied the steward, and on it there is a cicada. This cicada perches up there, chirping away and drinking the dew, not knowing that there is a praying mantis behind it. And the praying mantis leans forward, raising its forelegs to catch the cicada, not knowing that there is a sparrow beside it. The sparrow, again, cranes its neck to peck at the praying mantis, not knowing that there is someone with a catapult waiting below. These three small creatures are so eager to profit by something directly in front of them that they fail to realize the danger behind.

“Well said, “Replied the prince and he gave up his plan of invasion.