Planning Ahead, Vision and Industry - No. 3. The Ant and the Grasshopper - The Essential Aesop? - Back to Basics Abridgment Series
Gregg Zegarelli Esq.
Managing Shareholder at Technology & Entrepreneurial Ventures Law Group, PC
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." Leonardo da Vinci. Adopted by Steve Jobs.
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One beautiful summer?day, a Grasshopper?sang and danced when an Ant?passed by toiling with a heavy load.?
“Why, you fool, Mr. Ant. This is a day for song and dance—join me!” said Grasshopper.?
“No thank you very much,” replied the Ant, “this is also a day to work,” continuing its labors.?
“Work, work, work. Work is for another day!” quipped Grasshopper, continuing its song and dance.?
And, so it was, that winter came—as surely as night follows day.?
The Grasshopper was now hungry for lack of food,?and so he begged the Ant for the Ant's food.?
“I am quite sorry,” said Ant, “I worked as I needed to serve my family and my future needs.?You should have done the same when the circumstances permitted it, but you chose not to do so for your pleasure.”
Moral of the Story: Those who are not industrious?with their time?not only fail?to prosper, but they also fail to survive.
Introduction - The Essential Aesop - Epilogue
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Why We Loved It:?The Fable of the Grasshopper and the Ant is one of Aesop's most popular fables. Aesop teaches to remember the sacrifice required by our life-duty. It takes both planning and work. It takes both prudent decision-making and industry. [1]
Indeed, luck is bad life strategy.
We also take notice of something critical and perhaps even more important, as more completely exposed in the Epilogue to the Essential Aesop [2]; to wit:
The distinction between the teachings about wisdom by Aesop [3] and the teachings about "morality" by Jesus [4].
Now, certainly, wisdom (prudence) and charity (goodness, love) are not mutually exclusive, but neither are they the same. [10.1] There is never a wise fool, but there are often charitable, good and loving fools. [*7, *8, *9]
The fool conflates wisdom and goodness. [11] Wisdom decides what is good, goodness does not decide what is wise. [12]
Aesop's industrious Ant thought ahead and acted as was prudent and necessary for himself and those in his care. The foolish Grasshopper forsook Time, the mistake of a fool. [13]
Even Jesus understood the application of time to his mission. [10.2] Indeed, Jesus proves that wise use of present time itself constrains existential considerations, even for future timelessness.
The Grasshopper needed to get lucky, dependent by his folly, upon charity. Silly Grasshopper, he did not help himself, and he didn't get lucky. Maybe God forgave the Grasshopper for his life-folly, but not so easy for the Grasshopper's family in his care.
Hope is the last refuge of the victim. The Grasshopper might have hoped to get lucky by charity of others. But, the Grasshopper was not a victim. The Grasshopper was a fool.
Throughout time, the sages teach to behold Time, and that the pain comes either way. By our own internal choice today, or by external force tomorrow. [14]
Not a nice lesson. Not a kind lesson. Not a coddling lesson. But, alas, a necessary lesson.
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[10] ONE?: The LinkedIn Reference Set [#GRZ_183] 10.1 ONE 2211 [T23:25, L11:39] ("Hypocrisy") "You make?offerings?of mint, rue, dill, cumin, and of every garden herb, and have neglected?the more important?things of the law: judgment?and mercy, fidelity?and love?for God.? But you should have done the offerings without neglecting?the others."; 10.2 ONE: 346 [J7:5] ("Time") "And when they wanted?wine, the mother?of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with me? ?My hour?has not yet come.”
Benefit and Burden, sister and brother. Where should we find them? One with the other.
"Malum consilium fortuna est." ("Luck is bad strategy.") ~ grz
*?Gregg Zegarelli, Esq., earned both his Bachelor of Arts Degree and his Juris Doctorate from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His dual major areas of study were History from the College of Liberal Arts and Accounting from the Business School (qualified to sit for the CPA examination), with dual minors in Philosophy and Political Science. He has enjoyed Adjunct Professorships in the Duquesne University Graduate Leadership Master Degree Program (The Leader as Entrepreneur; Developing Leadership Character Through Adversity) and the University of Pittsburgh Law School (The Anatomy of a Deal). He is admitted to various courts throughout the United States of America.
Gregg Zegarelli, Esq.,?is Managing Shareholder of?Technology & Entrepreneurial Ventures Law Group, PC.?Gregg is nationally rated as "superb" and has more than 35 years of experience working with entrepreneurs and companies of all sizes, including startups,?INC. 500, and publicly traded companies.?He is author of?One: The Unified Gospel of Jesus,?and?The Business of Aesop? article series, and co-author with his father,?Arnold Zegarelli, of?The Essential Aesop: For Business, Managers, Writers and Professional Speakers.?Gregg is a frequent lecturer, speaker and faculty for a variety of educational and other institutions.?
? 2013 Gregg Zegarelli, Esq.?and?Arnold Zegarelli. Gregg can be contacted through?LinkedIn.?Arnold Zegarelli?can be contacted through?Facebook.
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