Wise Cockroach

The Wise Cockroach

In a small village surrounded by lush fields and tall trees, lived a kind-hearted farmer who treated every living creature with respect—even the tiniest ones.

One warm afternoon, three hungry cockroaches found their way into his kitchen, hoping to find a few crumbs to eat. They were tired, thin, and anxious, but still polite.

“Excuse us, sir,” said one of the cockroaches timidly, “We haven’t eaten in days. Could you please spare some food?”

The farmer, surprised by their honesty and manners, smiled and said, “Of course, little ones. There’s plenty to share.”

He spread cheese and some bread that was left over on the floor. The cockroaches eagerly helped themselves and even saved some to take back to their families.

After they finished, the farmer sat down near them and said, “You know, instead of begging for food, why don’t you work on my farm? You would receive regular meals, fair pay, and a safe place to live in exchange for my assistance. The cockroaches looked at each other in astonishment. None of them had ever received a job offer from a human. One of them asked cautiously, “What kind of work would we be doing?”

The farmer replied, “I have four jobs available, each with a different salary. You can pick the one that works best for you. He listed them one by one:

“First, I require someone to ring the bell and announce the chicken feeding time. The pay is ₹3,000 per month.”

“Second, I need someone to peel and chop garlic for cooking. That has a monthly wage of $5,000. “Third, someone needs to chase away the lizards that sneak around the barn. That job pays ₹4,000 per month.”

“And finally, I need someone to sing and dance for the goats. That job pays only ₹250 a month.”

The first cockroach yelled, "I want the garlic job!" right away. ₹5,000 a month? That’s the highest!”

The second cockroach added, "Then I'll take the lizard job!" in a flash. I'll be making 4,000 yen per month, which is still excellent! The third cockroach kept his distance. He looked thoughtful and didn’t rush to decide.

After a moment, he spoke gently, “I’ll take the ₹250 job. I’ll sing and dance for the goats.”

The other two turned to him in shock.

“Are you crazy?” asked the first. “You’re picking the job that pays the least!”

"What's the point of that?" said the second. "It's almost like free labor!" However, the third cockroach merely grinned. “I have my reasons,” he said softly.

The next morning, all three reported for duty. They were excited, ready to earn their first honest wages.

However, the excitement faded quickly. A tragedy occurred just a few hours into the day. The first cockroach, while ringing the bell near the chicken coop, was attacked and eaten by a hungry hen. The second, while bravely chasing a lizard from the barn, was snatched and devoured in one swift gulp.

Only the third cockroach remained alive, happily singing and dancing for the goats, who bleated in delight.

When the farmer heard what had happened, he was devastated. He called the third cockroach aside and said, “I’m so sorry about your friends. But tell me—why did you choose the job that paid the least?”

The cockroach sat down and replied, “It’s simple. Cockroaches are a favorite of chickens. That job was too dangerous. Garlic’s smell is toxic to us. Working with it might’ve killed me slowly. And lizards are our worst enemies. That job was a death sentence.”

He paused and added, “I chose the goat job not because of the money, but because it was safe. What good is a big paycheck if I don’t live long enough to enjoy it? I'd rather make a little money and live long enough to see my family and live happily. The farmer nodded slowly, realizing how wise the cockroach truly was. “You may earn the least,” he said, “but you’ve made the smartest choice of all.”

Moral of the Story:

Sometimes, the most rewarding choices in life aren’t the ones that offer the biggest rewards upfront. Don’t be blinded by money or ambition. Think carefully, weigh the risks, and choose what brings safety, peace, and lasting happiness. Knowing what to value most is wisdom.