Belling the Cat

A community of mice, terrorized by a cunning cat who caught them again and again by moving silently, called a grand council to solve the problem once and for all.

After much debate, a young mouse stood and proposed a brilliant solution: tie a small bell around the cat's neck, so that its jingling would warn every mouse of the cat's approach long before it got close enough to strike. The council cheered, delighted at such a clever idea, certain their troubles were finally over.

But as the celebration died down, an old, experienced mouse rose slowly and asked a single question: "This is indeed a wonderful plan — but which one of us will volunteer to walk up to the cat and tie the bell around her neck?"

The council fell completely silent. No mouse, however clever the idea, was brave enough to actually carry it out, and the wonderful plan was quietly abandoned.