The Butcher and the Monkey
Once upon a time, there was a big shop in a colourful market place full of chirping birdsong. The experienced butcher who owned this shop was a skilful man known for using his sharp knives with mastery. In the tall tree across from the butcher's shop there lived a very, very curious and playful monkey. From morning till evening this lovely animal watched every move of the butcher closely and tried to act like him. As the butcher raised his cleaver in the air and sliced the meat, the monkey imitated the same movements with empty hands on its branch. One hot noon, after laying the fresh meat out on the counter, the butcher went into the back room to rest a little. Seizing the chance, the curious monkey slipped quietly down from the tree and came in through the shop's open window.
When it saw the heavy, brightly shining cleaver and the sharp knives, its eyes lit up with joy. It whispered to itself, "I am just as skilled a cook as that butcher." It went at once behind the counter, tied the butcher's apron round its neck and grasped the great cleaver with both hands by force. It tried to make that grand movement it had seen from the butcher in order to cut the huge piece of meat on the table. It lifted the heavy cleaver up with all its might, but never thought how dangerous the tool was. The monkey, who did not know how to use a knife and did not understand that mastery does not come from imitation alone, set to work eagerly. It brought the cleaver down quickly to cut the meat, but the heavy tool slipped from its hand.
Instead of cutting the meat, the sharp steel wounded the clumsy monkey's own hand and leg and hurt it badly. Screaming in pain, the monkey dropped the cleaver on the floor and hid under the counter in fear. The butcher, who heard the noise and ran into the room, hurried at once to help the poor animal when he saw the scene. While binding its wound, he looked at the monkey tenderly and told it kindly that skill is not gained by watching alone. Returning to the enchanting market place, the monkey promised never again to try dangerous work it did not know. Blind imitation that rests on neither knowledge nor skill brings a person harm instead of benefit. If watching made a master, the cat would be a butcher.