Small minds are often so inflated by any perceived advantage over their superiors that they let their guard down against sudden changes in fortune.
One day, a proud lion scoffed at a gnat buzzing around his den, calling it a “paltry, contemptible insect.” The gnat, angered by the lion’s insult, vowed revenge. She landed on the lion’s neck and tormented him, then moved under his belly, and finally launched a fierce attack in his nostrils. The lion, driven to madness by the pain and irritation, collapsed in exhaustion and rage. The gnat, satisfied with her victory, flew off triumphantly. However, in her careless celebration, she failed to watch her surroundings and was caught in a spider’s web. The spider quickly ended her life, turning her moment of triumph into a fatal error.
This story teaches us not to let success make us complacent, as it can lead to unexpected reversals of fortune.
