# Summary

An experienced fish warns a younger one of the dangers of greed and the value of wisdom and foresight, emphasizing the importance of learning from others' experiences to avoid potential traps.

# Abstract

In a cautionary tale set in the depths of the ocean, a seasoned fisherman prepares his rod, using a worm as bait and a lamp to attract fish. A small fish, driven by curiosity and hunger, races towards the worm, only to be stopped by a larger, wiser fish who warns of the hook hidden within the tempting bait. The big fish explains the grim fate that awaits those who succumb to the lure, detailing a gruesome journey from the fisherman's hook to becoming a meal for humans. Despite the big fish's warnings, born from observation and wisdom, the small fish dismisses the advice, takes the bait, and meets its demise, reinforcing the lesson that heeding the counsel of those with experience can be a matter of life and death.

# Opinions

- The big fish's warnings reflect the value of experience and the importance of looking beyond immediate appearances to understand potential consequences.
- The small fish's dismissal of the big fish's advice suggests a critique of youthful impulsiveness and a disregard for the wisdom of elders.
- The narrative implies that progress and survival may depend on learning from past experiences and respecting the knowledge passed down through generations.
- The fisherman's method of using light and bait to catch fish symbolizes the human condition of being drawn to superficial attractions, often at the risk of our well-being.

A Short Story on Wisdom

From a very fishy tale

One of the things you realize about gettin older is that not everybody is goin to get older with you — Cormac Mccarthy

The fisherman

A fisherman was on his boat preparing his rod. He picked up a nice juicy worm and stabbed the hook in. Usually, the fisherman is used to fishing at night, beyond sight of any island, and sometimes even without moonlight. Without any form of light, the darkness gets so thick, he cannot even see his own hand an inch away if he wanted to.

But the fisherman knows how to fish. Before darkness descends upon him, he takes out several lamps, one of which he hovers over the water to attract any curious fish that dares to inquire this strange light. Once the fisherman's hook is ready, he flings it far into the water, and waits.

The fish

The helpless-lifeless worm dives deep into the water, until the end of the line puts it into an abrupt hold between two curious fish. Initially, both the big and small fish were attracted to a sudden strange light that appeared out of nowhere above their own watery death zone.

But this worm - this was an unexpected treat they didn’t expect to find. The small fish, fearing the big fish would take the treat first, raced with all the propellant its little fins could provide towards the bait. But the big fish didn’t move. Instead, he viciously fluttered his tiny fin at the smaller fish, “STOP!” he shouted, “STOP! don’t eat it, it's a trap!”. The little fish hit the brakes.

“What do you mean its a trap?” The small fish replied, wondering if this was indeed a trap, a trap for the big fish to stall him so that he can have the worm instead.

“Its a trap from the people above,” The big fish replied. “What you see is what you are shown, but you need to see beyond the end of your nose. This worm is attached to a thin thread that is beyond your sight. But I can because I have seen many of us taken away.”

Intrigued by what the small fish thought was big fish nonsense, he enquired, “sooooooo — what happens then?”

“Well,” the big fish continued “If you eat that worm, there is a hook that will pierce your cheeks and be impossible for you to remove.”

“Ewwww”

“I haven’t finished. You will be pulled up by something known as a fisherman. He will grab you roughly and tear out the hook from you face without mercy.”

“Then,” the big fish continued, “you will be kept in an icy place until you are exchanged with another human. This new human will take a big knife and cut you into little pieces, then she will throw you into the fire. Next, you will be put in the middle of a table, with ten people around you. And with a hundred fingers, they will eat your flesh until nothing is left but just bones. Finally, they will take those bones and throw them to the dogs. All because you took the bait.”

An unannounced staring competition began, becuase the small fish was 0_0

Big fish -_-

Small fish O_O

Big fish -_-

Small fish O-O

Big fish -__-

Finally, the small fish spoke first, “Did you go up and see all this, your self?”

“No, I haven’t” the big fish replied, knowing through his wisdom where this is going.

“No? Then what the FISH is wrong with you! If you don’t want to eat, then let others eat. You need to stop worrying about the future and learn to live in the moment” The small fish took the bait and screamed in pain. In a few moments, the small fish was dragged to the water’s surface, never to be seen again.”

The big fish sighed, turned around, another one, when will these kids ever listen. He loosely flapped his fins towards another light shinning at a distance where several small fish were competing to reach a lifeless worm.

He thought that the world would make more rapid progress without the burden of old people — Gabriel Garcia Marquez