Once upon a time, in a serene lake nestled deep in the forest, there lived a wise old turtle. He shared the lake with two friendly geese, who would often fly in from distant lands and engage in long conversations with the turtle. Over time, the three became close friends, enjoying each other’s stories and wisdom.
One year, a terrible drought dried up the lake, and the turtle faced the threat of death without water. The two geese, moved by compassion, came up with a plan to save their friend. They found a strong stick, and suggested that the turtle hold it tightly in the middle with his mouth, while they each carried one end with their beaks and flew him to a larger lake far away. But there was one strict condition: the turtle must remain absolutely silent during the flight, no matter what happened. If he opened his mouth, he would fall.
The turtle agreed, understanding the importance of their instruction. As the geese lifted off into the sky with the turtle clinging to the stick, the people of a nearby village looked up and saw the strange sight. Surprised and amused, they pointed, laughed, and mocked, saying, “Look at that foolish turtle flying through the air like a bird!”
The turtle, hearing the mocking laughter, felt insulted and wanted to respond. He forgot the promise he had made. Burning with the desire to defend himself and explain the truth, he opened his mouth to shout back. The moment he did, he lost his grip on the stick and came crashing down to the earth, dying instantly.
When the geese saw their friend fall, they flew down and mourned his loss. They had tried to save him, but his inability to control his tongue had led to his tragic end.
Moral: Speak only when necessary. Sometimes, silence is wiser than words. Those who cannot control their speech may bring harm upon themselves.
