The Fishermen

Summary

The story follows a group of fishermen who experience the highs and lows of expectation versus reality. As they drag their heavy nets to shore, they celebrate, believing they have made a bountiful catch. However, their joy turns to disappointment when they discover that the nets are filled with sand and stones instead of fish. The wise old man among them reflects on the situation, suggesting that joy and sorrow are closely linked and that it is common to experience both in succession. This teaches a valuable lesson about managing expectations and understanding that happiness and sadness often accompany each other throughout life.

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Some Fishermen were out trawling their nets. Perceiving them to be very heavy, they danced about for joy and supposed that they had taken a large catch. When they had dragged the nets to the shore they found but few fish: the nets were full of sand and stones, and the men were beyond measure cast down so much at the disappointment which had befallen them, but because they had formed such very different expectations. One of their company, an old man, said, “Let us cease lamenting, my mates, for, as it seems to me, sorrow is always the twin sister of joy; and it was only to be looked for that we, who just now were over-rejoiced, should next have something to make us sad.”