一棵冷杉樹用輕蔑的口吻對著荊棘夸口道：“你這可憐的東西，一點用處也沒有。你看看我，我可是對萬物都有益處，尤其是當人類要蓋房子的時候，沒有我根本就不行。”但是荊棘回答：“是啊！那的確很好。不過，等到他們拿著斧頭和鋸來把你砍倒時，你就會希望自己是荊棘，而不是冷杉樹了。”

　　【冷杉與荊棘的寓意】

　　冷杉與荊棘這篇寓言故事告訴我們：寧可貧窮而無人問津，也不要富貴而責任纏身。

　　【冷杉與荊棘英文版】

　　THE FIR-TREE AND THE BRAMBLE

　　A Fir-tree was boasting to a Bramble，and said，somewhat contemptuously,“You poor creature，you are of no use whatever Now,look at me：I am useful for all sorts of things.particularly when men build houses；they can’t do without me then”But the Bramble replied，“Ah.that’S all very well：but you wait till they come with axes and saws to cut you down，and then you’ll wish you were a Bramble and not a Fir.”

　　Better poverty without a care than wealth with its manyobligations.