The Sparrow And The Monkey: Deep within a dense, ancient jungle, there grew a magnificent Shami tree. High up on one of its sturdy, sprawling branches, a cheerful pair of sparrows had built a cozy little nest.
The Sparrow And The Monkey
One cold winter afternoon, the two sparrows were snuggled together happily in their warm home. A freezing rain began to pour. The wind howled through the forest, dropping the temperature drastically.
Before long, a monkey came shivering through the trees, absolutely battered by the icy winds and freezing rain. Seeking shelter, he huddled beneath the thick canopy of the Shami tree. He was completely miserable, his teeth chattering loudly as he hugged his knees to his chest.
Looking down from her dry, comfortable nest, the female sparrow felt a pang of pity for the shivering creature. Leaning over the edge of her branch, she called down to him.
“Excuse me, friend,” she chirped. “You have hands and feet that look just like a human being’s. You are so much bigger and stronger than we are. We can build a warm nest with just our tiny beaks. Why don’t you use your hands to build a proper home? This will protect you from the cold.”
Instead of being grateful for her concern, the monkey was deeply offended. His shivering quickly turned into a furious rage.
“Why don’t you mind your own business and shut your mouth?!” the monkey snapped.
As the rain continued to beat down on him, the monkey muttered angrily to himself. “Can you believe the nerve of this little bird? She sits up there in her dry little nest, acting like some highly educated scholar, lecturing me! This insolent little chatterbox makes me want to wring her neck.”
Glaring up at the sparrow, the monkey shouted, “Don’t you know the old saying? You should only give advice to someone who actually asks for it! Otherwise, it is as useless as crying out in an empty wilderness!”
The furious monkey acted out of spite and wounded pride. He ignored the freezing rain. He scrambled straight up the trunk of the Shami tree. Before the terrified sparrows could even react, he reached their branch. He grabbed their carefully built nest and tore it into a thousand pieces. The monkey scattered it to the winds.
The poor sparrows were left out in the cold rain. They learned a harsh lesson about exactly who they should try to help. They also learned who they shouldn’t try to help.
The Moral: Never give unsolicited advice, especially to a fool. Good intentions and wise words are completely wasted—and often punished—when offered to someone who is arrogant and undeserving.
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