The scorpion and the frog

One day a scorpion arrived at the bank of a river he wanted to cross. The river was wide and swift and there was no bridge.

Suddenly, he saw a frog sitting nearby. He asked the frog whether he would take him on his back in order to help the scorpion cross the stream. The frog replied "How do I know you will not sting me?".

"Because," -the scorpion replied- "if I do, I will die too, for I cannot swim".

The frog saw the logic in the scorpion's words, and agreed to carry the scorpion across. But once they were halfway across the river, the scorpion stung the frog. The frog felt the onset of paralysis and started to sink, knowing they both would drown. He had just enough time to gasp "Why did you do it? Now we will both die!".

"I could not help myself." -replied the scorpion- "It is my nature".



(see also: wikipedia's entry for the scorpion and the frog)



Photo by Chalkie_CC