In the state of Chu, a man who had held a sacrifice gave the goblet of sacrificial wine to his stewards.
”This is not enough for us all,” said the stewards, ”but more than enough for one. Let’s draw snakes on the ground, and the one who finishes first can have the wine.”
The man who finished first picked up the goblet, but holding it in his left hand went on drawing with his right.
”I am adding some legs,” he said.
Before he finished the legs, though, another steward completed his drawing and took the goblet from him.
”A snake has no legs,” said the latter. ”Why should you add legs?”
So he drained the wine instead. And the one who had drawn the legs had nothing to drink.
Allegorical Meaning
This is a timeless parable that offers profound insights into the concept of overdoing things.
Avoid Overcomplicating:
The primary lesson is about recognizing when something is complete and avoiding unnecessary additions or modifications. It teaches us more is not necessarily better. There’s an inherent value in simplicity and knowing when to stop.
Pride Before a Fall:
The story also serves as a caution against hubris. The man’s downfall came from his pride and desire to show off, thinking he could enhance his already completed work. This can be seen as a warning against arrogance and the belief that one knows better than they actually do.
Understanding Limits and Perfection:
Another moral aspect is understanding the limits of perfection within a given context. What might seem like an improvement could actually detract from the original quality or effectiveness of something. Knowing where those boundaries lie is crucial for success in any endeavor.
Focus on Essentials:
Lastly, the parable encourages focusing on the essentials rather than getting distracted by non-essential embellishments. By adding feet to the snake, the character lost sight of the core objective: accurately depicting a snake. This can be related to many aspects of life and work where maintaining focus on the main goal is key to achieving success.
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