Aesop | Greece
The Flea and The Man
A man fought a bothersome flea, caught it, confronted its plea for mercy, but ultimately chose to punish it anyway.
Once upon a time, a man found himself bothered by a tiny flea. This tiny creature had been feeding on his skin, causing him much discomfort and irritation.
Despite its size, the flea proved extremely difficult to catch. When the man finally captured it, his anger became apparent. "Why do you dare to bite me and cause me such hassle in trying to catch you?" he asked the flea.
In a timid voice, the flea replied, "Oh, kind sir, please don't hurt me. I'm just a tiny creature and I can't possibly cause you any real harm."
The man couldn't help but laugh at the flea's plea. "You may be small, but you've caused me enough trouble. No wrongdoing, no matter how tiny, should be allowed," he said.
And with that, the man closed his hand, sealing the fate of the tiny flea.
