The Fox and the Crow
Aesop's Fables · 1 min read
A crow perched high in a tree, holding a delicious piece of cheese firmly in her beak. A hungry fox, spotting her from below, immediately began plotting how to make her drop it.
"What a magnificent bird you are," the fox called up sweetly. "Your feathers shine like midnight, and I have no doubt your voice must be just as beautiful. Won't you sing for me, so I may hear it for myself?"
Flattered beyond reason, the crow opened her beak to prove her singing voice — and the cheese tumbled straight down into the fox's waiting mouth. "I thank you for the cheese," the fox said, trotting off satisfied, "and I'll add one piece of advice in return: never trust flattery from someone who clearly wants something from you."
Moral of the story
Flattery often has a hidden price — be wary of praise from someone who clearly wants something.