The Proud Goat and Her Never-Ending “Meh-Meh

The Proud Goat and Her “Meh-Meh”

BY: Ubaid

Masood Zaki once said, “The goat is one of the strangest yet most amusing creatures you’ll ever meet.” And he wasn’t wrong. A goat is often proud, vain, and full of herself. She sings her own praises day and night, bleating “Meh! Meh!” as if the whole world must acknowledge her greatness.

Now, people usually dislike arrogant individuals. Nobody enjoys the company of those who talk only of themselves. But strangely enough, people do love goats—why? Simply because goats give us milk. That milk is light, easy to digest, and highly nourishing, especially for infants. Sometimes, of course, the goat also gives little droppings along with her milk. Yet the clever milkman quietly removes them before selling the milk.

So the proud goat is tolerated, even admired. After all, who can resist her delicious, nutritious gift?


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Of Horns and Quarrels

Goats generally have two horns. I say “generally” because now and then, a goat loses a horn or two in a fight. Quarreling is not a good habit—whether among humans or animals. Yet, for goats, fights sometimes prove useful. How so? Well, when Eid-ul-Adha arrives, healthy and flawless goats are often chosen for sacrifice. A goat missing one horn usually escapes this fate.

But let’s be honest: how long can a goat’s mother escape destiny? Sooner or later, even she must face the butcher’s knife. And once the butcher gets hold of her, the story takes another turn. He separates the meat from the scraps, but every now and then, he mixes in the scraps with the meat to weigh more.

The scraps, however, are not wasted. Cats dream of them endlessly. Cats linger around butcher shops, their eyes glowing, their mouths watering, and their claws ready. For them, goat scraps are a royal feast.


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The Goat’s Milk and the Milkman’s Tricks

Our proud goat wishes to provide pure milk with all her heart. But the milkman often spoils her good intentions. To increase profit, he adds water to the milk. Thankfully, an invention came to the rescue—a small device called the lactometer (or “milk tester”). This little tool tells exactly how much water is in the milk. In other words, it separates the milk from the water, truth from deception.

Of course, milkmen dislike this device. After all, it exposes their tricks. But here lies an important lesson: whenever an invention is made, one must also think about whose interests it might harm. Otherwise, conflicts are bound to arise.


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The Old Tale of the Lion and the Goat

It is said that long ago, lions and goats drank from the same stream. Do we believe it? Hardly. For how can a lion and a goat share the same water peacefully? We believe such a thing is only possible when the goat is inside the lion’s stomach!


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The Danger of Too Much “Meh-Meh”

When the goat is in high spirits, she becomes louder than ever, crying “Meh! Meh! Meh!” without pause. She wants the whole world to hear her voice. But too much self-praise, too much noise, is dangerous. If she goes too far, people lose patience. The butcher is called, the knife is sharpened, and her proud neck is sacrificed.

This, dear readers, is the end of self-centered pride.


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The Moral for Us

The goat’s story is not just about an animal; it is about us too. Many of us behave like the goat—always praising ourselves, always thinking we are the greatest, never listening to others. But life does not work that way. No one likes arrogance. Pride isolates us, while humility connects us.

The wise lesson is this: do not always say, “It’s me, only me.” Learn to listen. Learn to share. Learn to value the voices of others. Otherwise, like the goat, we may find ourselves facing the sharp edge of reality.


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Conclusion

So the next time you see a goat bleating proudly, remember her story. Remember that self-obsession may give us a temporary stage, but in the end, it leads to downfall. Balance is the key. Just as milk must be free of water, our lives must be free of arrogance.

Give, like the goat gives milk—but do not ruin the gift with pride. Listen, share, and stay humble. That is the way to live, to be loved, and to stay safe from the butcher’s knife.