The Crow and the Pitcher

A Crow, parched with terrible thirst on a hot summer's day, flew about the countryside seeking water. At last, he discovered a large pitcher standing in the yard of a house, and he hastened toward it, hoping to drink. But when he peered into the vessel, he found that the water lay far below the rim, beyond the reach of his beak, no matter how he stretched his neck. Distressed and despairing, the Crow sat upon the ground and contemplated his predicament. His thirst was great, yet the water seemed as distant as the clouds themselves. He might have abandoned the pitcher in defeat and flown onward, but instead, he remained and contemplated the difficulty before him with studious attention. As he sat thus, his eyes fell upon some small pebbles scattered upon the ground nearby. The Crow began a careful examination of his situation, studying whether and how these pebbles might prove useful. Through this process of patient study and observation, an idea stirred within his mind—what if he were to drop these pebbles into the pitcher? With this thought, the Crow began to apply himself to the task with studious determination. One by one, he picked up the pebbles in his beak and dropped them into the pitcher. As each pebble sank into the water, the water level rose incrementally. The Crow continued this labor, never doubting that his method would prove sound, for he had studied the problem and understood the principle that guided his actions. The Crow's studiousness—his willingness to examine a problem carefully and to learn through observation—enabled him to discover a solution that a less thoughtful creature would never have conceived. By patient study of the obstacle before him and the tools at his disposal, he transformed an impossible situation into one of triumph. At last, after many repetitions of this humble task, the water rose sufficiently that the Crow could reach it with his beak. He drank deeply and fully, quenching the terrible thirst that had tormented him. In his studiousness, the Crow had transformed the discipline of careful observation and learning into a virtue that saved his life.