Responsibility

Aesops’ Fables includes the story of a man who owned a proud and handsome horse and an ugly, broken-down old donkey. One day, as they set out on a long journey, the man placed the full burden of carrying the supplies on the donkey. This weakened the donkey so that the poor animal asked the horse to bear part of the load. “If you would take a fair portion, I shall soon get strong again; but if you refuse to help me this weight will kill me,” the donkey said. The horse told the donkey to get on with his work and refused to carry part of the burden. Because the horse would not “lift a finger,” so to speak, the donkey dropped dead, overcome by his burden. The master then loosened the pack and placed it upon the horse’s back. To this he added the burden of the donkey’s carcass. Then the horse cried out: “Alas for my ill nature! By refusing to bear…