Story
A Fox, wandering through the countryside, came to a deep well and looked into its dark depths with curiosity. As he peered over the edge, he lost his footing and tumbled down into the well, falling far below the surface. The water at the bottom broke his fall, yet he found himself trapped in the pit with no apparent means of escape.
The walls of the well were steep and smooth, far too high for the Fox to climb without assistance. As he contemplated his terrible situation, a Goat came to the edge of the well and looked down. The Goat, seeing the Fox below, asked, "What brings you to such a terrible place, friend Fox? How did you fall into this pit?"
The Fox, possessed of great cunning and understanding, immediately recognized his opportunity. Speaking with apparent sincerity and wisdom, he said: "My good friend Goat, I did not fall by accident. I came here intentionally, for I have discovered that the water in this well is the most refreshing and health-giving in all the land. Look how clear and pure it appears! I assure you that drinking from this well will cure any ailment and grant great strength. But the supply is limited, and I feared that others would soon discover this secret. Come down, and taste the water yourself, and you will understand why I came here."
The Goat, simple and credulous, was easily convinced by the Fox's words. Without thinking carefully about the situation or understanding the true nature of the Fox's intentions, the Goat descended into the well. But once in the pit, the Goat realized the terrible truth—there was no means to escape.
The Fox, clambering upon the Goat's back and using the creature's body as a stepping stone, climbed out of the well and gained his freedom. As he departed, he called back to the stranded Goat: "If you possessed understanding and prudence, you would have asked yourself: how did the Fox intend to escape? If there is no means by which I can leave this well, what possible reason could the Fox have for coming here intentionally? Your lack of understanding has trapped you in this pit."
The Goat, left alone in the well, understood at last the danger of accepting words without employing reason and understanding.