The Gnat and the Bull
Long ago, beside a green meadow where cool waters flowed gently, there lived a magnificent bull. All day long this powerful bull chewed the fresh grass and rested calmly in the deep shade of the tall trees. On yet another hot summer day, a tiny and rather conceited mosquito began to fly through the forest out of boredom. Beating its wings furiously, this little insect was so proud that it believed itself the most important creature in the world. After a long and tiring flight, its eyes fell upon the huge bull grazing peacefully in the meadow. The tiny mosquito glided through the air with a showy manner and landed on one of the bull's sharp horns. It stopped there, smoothed its wings, and began to think that it had done the bull a very great favour.
Fearing that its weight might crush the bull, it decided to speak in its thin voice with great self-importance. "O mighty friend, I hope I am not wearying you too much by standing upon your horn," it said boastfully. The bull, meanwhile, went on calmly chewing the grass with great appetite and driving the flies away with its tail. Receiving no answer, the proud mosquito raised its voice a little and called out to the bull again. "If my presence weighs on you, say so, and I shall fly away at once to another place," it added. The mosquito imagined that the bull would remain grateful to it for such great courtesy. The huge bull slowly turned its head and looked with indifferent eyes at the tiny creature on the tip of its horn.
Drawing a deep breath, it answered in a booming yet wholly uninterested tone. "I never heard you say that you were coming, little friend, so why should I grieve when you say you are going?" it said with a smile. "I did not notice that you had settled here, nor shall I feel your absence when you are gone," it said, finishing its words. Understanding that all its grandeur and importance amounted to nothing, the little mosquito did not know what to do out of shame. Beating its wings in silence, it glided away towards the depths of the forest and vanished from sight. Those who believe themselves far greater than they are understand only too late how small they truly are in the eyes of others. The empty ear of grain stands upright.