Synopsis
A scorpion asks a frog to carry him over a river. The frog is afraid of being stung during the trip, but the scorpion argues that if it stung the frog, the frog would sink and the scorpion would drown. The frog agrees and begins carrying the scorpion, but midway across the river the scorpion does indeed sting the frog, dooming them both.
When asked why, the scorpion points out that this is its nature.
The fable is used to illustrate the position that the natural behaviour of some creatures is inevitable, no matter how they are treated. It is also used to illustrate that individuals are apt to behave in accordance with their true character in spite of the education they might have received throughout their lives and in spite of knowing fully well the right course of action.
Aesop’s Fables! I didn’t realize the story was truly that old, but then, much about human nature does not change after the age of, say, 16 years of life. Here is another nugget of ancient wisdom; “There Is Nothing New Under The Sun!”, from Ecclesiastes 1;9; The Old Testament.