The Goat, the Crow, and the Mouse: A Lesson in Wise Kindness Why good deeds should be guided by wisdom, not just a generous heart

In a dense forest, a goat wandered freely, without the slightest fear of danger.

A crow, perched on a branch, noticed her unusual confidence and flew down.

“Sister!” he asked, puzzled.

“Aren’t you afraid of the ferocious animals in this forest? How are you so carefree?”

The goat smiled.

“Some time ago, a lioness died, leaving two cubs alone in the jungle. I pitied them and fed them with my own milk. Now, those lions have grown up and announced to all creatures: ‘No one should ever harm our goat mother.’

Since then, no predator dares to trouble me.”

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The crow was impressed.

He thought to himself:

"If I could do such a noble deed, I too could earn respect in the world of birds."

While flying, he spotted a mouse struggling in the river. Without hesitation, the crow swooped down, pulled the mouse to safety, and set him on a rock.

He began fanning the mouse with his wings to help him dry.

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As soon as the mouse recovered, he did not thank the crow—

instead, he began nibbling on the crow’s feathers.

The crow, still in the spirit of kindness, ignored it.

The mouse soon dried completely and darted into his burrow.

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Pleased with himself, the crow spread his wings to fly—

but instead of soaring, he fell face-first to the ground.

His feathers had been chewed, and now he could only hop along the forest floor.

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By chance, the goat passed by and saw the crow’s misery.

“Oh brother crow! What happened to you?” she asked.

The crow, furious, replied:

“This is all because of you! I tried to save a life—a mouse’s life—because of your story, and look what happened!”

The goat laughed gently.

“Oh foolish one! If you wished to do a good deed, you should have done it for someone noble, like a lion’s cub.

A mouse will always remain a mouse—unchanged in nature.

Goodness never suits the wicked, and this is what happens when kindness is given to the unworthy.”

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Words of Wisdom

These words reminded the crow of a famous verse by Mian Muhammad Bakhsh:

"If you do good to those of noble origin,

They will remember it for generations.

But if you do good to those of ignoble birth,

They will repay you with treachery."

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Just as crow chicks cannot turn into swans by eating pearls,

and no matter how much sweetness you pour into a salty well—it will always remain salty.

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Final Message for Readers

Kindness is a noble virtue, but wisdom must guide it.

Not everyone values or deserves your good deeds—some will cherish them for a lifetime, while others will repay you with harm.

The goat’s safety came from helping those who understood and respected her sacrifice.

The crow’s downfall came from helping one who could never rise above his nature.

In life, choose your acts of kindness wisely.

Help those willing to grow, change, and appreciate your efforts.

Kindness toward the wrong person can drain your strength,

but kindness toward the right one can protect you for a lifetime.

God bless you.

written by Akhtar Sahil