The Tortoise Who Talked Too Much

A tortoise was great friends with two geese. When their pond began to dry up, the geese had a plan: they would each hold one end of a stick in their beaks, and the tortoise would bite the middle, and so they would fly him to a new lake.

“But don't say a word,” they warned, “or you'll fall.” Up they flew. Below, people pointed and shouted, “Look at the flying tortoise!”

The tortoise could not resist replying — and the moment he opened his mouth to speak, he let go of the stick and tumbled down. He had learned, too late, the value of holding one's tongue.