The Washerman's Two Donkeys

A washerman owned two donkeys of roughly equal strength, using both to carry heavy loads of laundry to and from the river each day. One donkey worked steadily and quietly, never complaining regardless of the weather or the weight of his load. The other complained loudly about every burden, every hot day, every steep hill, constantly comparing his workload to his companion's and insisting he deserved lighter treatment.

The washerman, tired of the constant complaints, began quietly shifting slightly more weight onto the quiet donkey's back over time, since he never protested, while giving the complaining donkey slightly lighter loads simply to have some peace during the day.

Over months, the quiet donkey grew stronger and more capable from the steady, if increasing, work, while the complaining donkey, given less to do, grew weaker and softer. When a genuine emergency arose requiring a long, difficult journey, only the quiet donkey had the strength and endurance to complete it — his years of steady, uncomplaining effort having built exactly the capability that mattered most when it truly counted, while the other's constant complaints had only shrunk his own strength over time.