Belling The Cat by Aesop
The Mice once called a meeting to decide on a plan to free themselves of their enemy, the Cat. At least they wished to find some way of knowing when she was coming, so they might have time to run away. Indeed, something had to be done, for they lived in such constant fear of her claws that they hardly dared stir from their dens by night or day.
Many plans were discussed, but none of them was thought good enough. At last a very young Mouse got up and said:
"I have a plan that seems very simple, but I know it will be successful. All we have to do is to hang a bell about the Cat's neck. When we hear the bell ringing we will know immediately that our enemy is coming."
All the Mice were much surprised that they had not thought of such a plan before. But in the midst of the rejoicing over their good fortune, an old Mouse arose and said:
"I will say that the plan of the young Mouse is very good. But let me ask one question: Who will bell the Cat?"
Terjemahan:
Tikus pernah mengadakan rapat untuk memutuskan rencana membebaskan diri dari musuh mereka, Kucing. Setidaknya mereka ingin menemukan cara untuk mengetahui kapan dia akan datang, jadi mereka mungkin punya waktu untuk melarikan diri. Sesungguhnya, sesuatu harus dilakukan, karena mereka hidup dalam ketakutan terus-menerus terhadap cakarnya sehingga mereka hampir tidak berani keluar dari sarangnya siang atau malam.
Banyak rencana dibahas, tetapi tidak satupun yang dianggap cukup baik. Akhirnya seekor Tikus yang sangat muda bangkit dan berkata:
"Aku punya rencana yang kelihatannya sangat sederhana, tapi aku tahu itu akan berhasil. Yang harus kita lakukan adalah menggantungkan lonceng di leher Kucing. Saat kita mendengar bel berbunyi kita akan segera tahu bahwa musuh kita akan datang."
Semua Tikus sangat terkejut karena mereka tidak memikirkan rencana seperti itu sebelumnya. Tetapi di tengah kegembiraan atas keberuntungan mereka, seekor tikus tua muncul dan berkata:
"Saya akan mengatakan bahwa rencana Tikus muda itu sangat bagus. Tapi izinkan saya mengajukan satu pertanyaan: Siapa yang akan membunyikan Kucing?"
Moral of the Story
It is one thing to say that something should be done, but quite a different matter to do it