(Photo source: Envato)
Silkworms produce silk to benefit the community, whereas spiders produce silk to hunt. Who is more endearing comparatively?
I have read a piece of well-written commentary by Mr Wang Duan Zheng, which quoted appropriate examples and descriptions. It is a story about a silkworm and a spider.
The Spider tells the Silkworm, “Even though both of us produce silk, the silk I produced helps me to build my empire all over the world. The silk you produced merely acts as a self-binding cocoon, and death awaits you after all the silk production. Ha! My silk is of more value!”
The Silkworm replies, “My silk can be used for weaving. As such, from the Royals above down to the commoners, all of them can be clothed. I am sacrificing myself to benefit the society. Whereas the silk you produced, despite it looking well-distributed and pretty, these silk webs can only be used for hunting small insects. In a bid to provide for yourself, you harm others’ lives. What is the value of such self-serving and detrimental silk?”
Between the silkworm and the spider, one sacrifices itself by continuously producing silk for the benefit of society, whereas the other one harms others for its own survival. Who is more endearing comparatively? The spider looks menacing when it hunts, while the silkworm looks so docile and loveable.
As such, why not let us sacrifice our self-interest for the benefit of the community while living our lives?
Translated by Soh Wan Siew
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