A Fox one day spied a beautiful bunch of ripe grapes hanging from a vine trained along the branches of a tree. Please fetch me a drink of water, he begged, that might give me strength enough so I can get me some solid food. Do not tell the master, he begged the Goat. At last he found a little sheltered cave, where lived a family of Snakes. Let us agree, said the Sun, that he is the stronger who can strip that Traveler of his cloak. No need of witnesses, said one of the hearers. Suppose this city is Rhodes. What did he tell you? It is worth just as much to you as the treasure you lost!
Do not sacrifice your freedom for the sake of pomp and show.