The Scorpion and the Frog

The Tale of the Scorpion and the Frog

Once, a scorpion wanted to cross a stream but was unable to swim. He approached a frog who was preparing to swim to the other side and asked for help.

''Could you let me ride on your back to get across the stream? I promise I won't hurt you,'' the scorpion implored gently.

The frog hesitated before answering,

''You are a scorpion! If I allow you onto my back and you choose to sting me, I will certainly die!''

The scorpion quickly responded,

''Don't worry. If I sting you, we would both drown in the stream, and I would die too.''

After considering this logic, the frog reluctantly consented, as the scorpion's argument appeared reasonable: a sting would result in the demise of them both.

However, halfway across the stream, the scorpion stung the frog in the back.

''What have you done?'' the frog cried out in agony. ''Now we are both doomed!''

The scorpion simply stated,

''I can't help it. It's in my nature…''

This fable conveys that

''Behaviors driven by deep-seated instincts can often be immutable, even when they lead to one's own downfall.''