Wisdom story: The Clever Marmot and the Gullible Sheep A Tale of Deception

Once upon a time, in the high mountain meadows, a marmot prepared for the coming winter. Every year, he struggled with the cold because his fur was not thick enough to keep him warm. One day, while reading a scientific article, he discovered that sheep’s wool was incredibly warm. An idea struck him. If he could line his den with wool, he could finally have a warm and cozy winter. As summer stretched lazily over the mountains, the marmot spotted a sheep resting in the shade of a rocky overhang. The sheep looked peaceful and content, enjoying the coolness of the shelter. The marmot approached her and, with an air of concern, began to speak. “Sheep, your wool looks so heavy and thick. How do you manage in this summer heat? It must be unbearable,” he remarked, shaking his head as if deeply troubled. The sheep, whose wool actually insulated her from both heat and cold, was puzzled by the marmot’s words. She had never found her wool to be a problem before. But before she could respond, the marmot continued. “You know, heat can be very dangerous,” he said in a serious tone. “I’ve seen sheep as woolly as you collapse from heatstroke!” The sheep hesitated. She had never heard of such a thing happening, but the marmot spoke with such certainty. Could it be true? Could her wool be harming her? The marmot nodded, sensing her doubt. “I think it would be safest for you if you were completely hairless,” he suggested. “That way, you won’t overheat and risk getting sick. I could help you. I don’t want to see you suffer.” The sheep, touched by the marmot’s concern and beginning to doubt her own instincts, agreed. And so, the marmot shaved her wool off completely. He assured her he wanted nothing in return, even kindly offering to store the wool away for safekeeping, of course. In reality, he lined his den with the soft fleece, preparing for the cold months ahead. At first, the sheep felt incredibly light. She leaped across the rocks with ease and admired how much slimmer she looked. However, as summer faded into autumn, a chill began to creep into the air. With her wool only beginning to grow back, she started to feel the cold. Shivering, she went to the marmot. “Marmot, I am very cold without my wool. What should I do?” she asked. From the warmth of his well-insulated den, the marmot looked at her with sympathy. “I will help you,” he said. He rummaged through his pantry and handed her a synthetic sweater he no longer needed.

The sheep gratefully accepted it. At first, it kept her warm, and she felt relieved. But after a few days, she noticed something strange, she was sweating unusually, and the sweat had no way to escape through the synthetic fibers. This constant dampness made her vulnerable to the cold wind, and soon enough, she caught a cold. Once again, she turned to the marmot. “Marmot, I have a cold. What should I do?” she sniffled. The marmot, still nestled in his warm den, reassured her. “I will help you,” he said and handed her some pills to make the cold go away quickly. The pills worked, but they made the sheep feel dizzy. One day, while grazing, she lost her balance and tumbled off a rock, nearly injuring another sheep in the process. Seeing this, the marmot shook his head solemnly. “Sheep, you are becoming dangerous to others,” he declared. “For the safety of everyone, I think it’s best if you stay inside a barn until next summer.” The sheep, still feeling weak and confused, did not resist as she was led to a small barn. There, she waited out the harsh winter, unable to roam freely as she once had. However, as the months passed, something miraculous happened, her wool began to grow back, thicker and warmer than before. By the time spring arrived, she was strong again, and when she was finally let out, she ran through the meadow with newfound joy. One day, as she grazed peacefully, the marmot approached her once more. This time, he had a new piece of wisdom to share. “Sheep, I read in a scientific journal that parasites live in sheep’s wool and drink their blood,” he explained, his tone grave and knowing. The sheep, however, had learned a valuable lesson. She looked at the marmot, who had used her kindness and trust to serve his own needs, and said with quiet certainty, “Marmot, it seems to me that the only truly dangerous parasite is you.” And with that, she turned away, leaving the marmot to ponder her words. For the first time, he had nothing to say.