One-legged Kui was jealous of the Centipede, the Centipede was jealous of the Snake, the Snake was jealous of the Wind, the Wind was jealous of the Eye, and the Eye was jealous of the Heart.
Kui said to the Centipede:
“I move by hopping on one leg, and there is nothing easier in the world.” And you have to move ten thousand legs, how do you manage them?
- Why be surprised? - answered the Centipede. “Didn’t you see a man spitting?” When he spits, different drops fly out of his mouth - large, like pearls, or very small, like droplets of fog. They fall jumbled to the ground, and it is impossible to count them. I am moved by the Heavenly Spring in me, but how I move, I myself do not know.
The centipede said to the snake:
“I move with the help of many legs, but I cannot move as fast as you, although you have no legs at all.” Why is this so?
“I am moved by the Heavenly Spring in me,” answered the Snake. - How can I change this? What are my legs for?
The snake said to the wind:
I move by bending and straightening my spine, because I have a body. You rise howling in the Northern Ocean and, still howling, rush into the Southern Ocean, although you have no body. How do you do it?
- Yes, I rise howling in the Northern Ocean and fly to the Southern Ocean. But if someone touches me with a finger, he will overcome me, and if he begins to trample with his feet, he will crush me. So be it, but only I can break mighty trees and destroy huge houses. This is how I turn many small non-wins into one big win. But only the perfectly wise are capable of being a great winner!
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru