the_fox_without_a_tail andru235 the attempts by the passionless to quell the passions of others: THE FOX WITHOUT A TAIL A fox was caught by his tail in a trap, and was glad enough to lose his tail in order to get away. But when he got back to his forest neighborhood, he began to worry what his neighbors would say to him. To make the best of a bad matter, he called a meeting of all the foxes, and when they were gathered around he spoke as follows: "My friends, you have no idea how wonderful it is to have no tail. I would not have believed it if I hadn't tried it first myself. I feel *so* light, I can run so fast, that I am quite proud of myself. And of course a bid tail is such an ugly and inconvenient thing! I wonder that we foxes have put up with such things so long! I therefore propose, that from this day forward, all foxes cut off their tails!" There was some willingness to follow this plan, until an old wily fox came forward. "I wonder," said the old fox, "why you never thought of cutting off our tails before you lost your own?" (think twice when a beggar tells you to throw away your gold) --From Aesop's Fables [for the analogously challenged, substitute 'passion' for 'tail'] 050327 what's it to you? who go blather from