A certain snake catcher made friends with a poisonous snake: he fed it milk and never parted from it. He carried the snake on himself, and it, wrapped around his neck, always lay there, no matter where the snake catcher went. And this snake catcher loved to chat with people and was very offended by them, seeing that all the people were running away from him. - “No, no one understands me! – The snake catcher sighed. “Nobody even wants to talk to me!” This means people don’t know how to love and treat each other humanely!” – That’s what he often told himself. One of his acquaintances heard his conversation with himself and shouted to the snake catcher, moving away: “Hey, snake catcher! Throw away your snake, and then we won’t run away from you. This is exactly what will be “humane” - on your part! Then you will see that people have nothing to do with it!” Source: Simeon of Athos Ascent to Heaven
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru