The Boy and the Filberts

A BOY put his hand into a pitcher full of filberts. He grasped as many as he could possibly hold, but when he tried to pull out his hand, he was prevented from doing so by the neck of the pitcher. Unwilling to lose his filberts, and yet unable to withdraw his hand, he burst into tears and bitterly lamented his disappointment. A bystander said to him, “Be satisfied with half the quantity, and you will readily draw out your hand.”

少年が、ハシバミの実がいっぱい入ったつぼに手を入れた。少年はつかめるだけたくさんの実をにぎりしめたが、手を引きぬこうとすると、つぼの口につかえて出せなかった。実を手放すのはいやだが、手をぬくこともできず、少年はわっと泣きだして、思いどおりにならないのをひどくなげいた。そばにいた人が少年に言った。「半分の量でがまんしなさい。そうすれば、すぐに手をぬけるよ」

Do not attempt too much at once.

一度にあまり多くを欲ばってはいけない。