The Lion's Share
Aesop's Fables · 1 min read
A lion, a fox, a jackal, and a wolf agreed to hunt together as equal partners, sharing both the effort and whatever prey they caught fairly among the four of them. Working as a team, they successfully brought down a large deer.
When it came time to divide the meat, the lion stepped forward and drew four lines across the carcass. "The first quarter is mine," he announced, "because I am the king of beasts. The second quarter is also mine, since I contributed the most strength to the hunt. The third is mine as well, as fair payment for my courage in leading the chase. And as for the fourth quarter — well, I'd advise whoever wishes to touch it to think very carefully about what happens next."
The fox, the jackal, and the wolf, understanding perfectly what the lion truly meant, quietly backed away without a single word of protest, leaving with nothing at all rather than risk his claws.
Moral of the story
In a partnership with someone far more powerful than you, 'equal shares' rarely means what it claims to.