Zemardus and his fables

Once the orator Zemardus was giving a public lecture in Athens, but the audience were not paying attention, so Zemardus stopped and said, "Gentlemen, I would like to tell you an Aesop's fable." This made everyone pay close attention to his speech. "The goddess Demeter was traveling with the swallows and the eels," Zemades began. "They came to a river without a bridge. The swallows flew and the eels swam." Then he fell silent. "How is Demeter?" "Shouted several people in the audience. "Demeter," he answered, "I am very angry with you for listening to fables and not for public matters."

Between collective and personal interests, too many selfish people only care about personal interests and don't support collective interests.

泽马德斯和他的寓言

有一次，演讲者泽马德斯在雅典做了一次公开演讲，但是观众却心不在焉，泽马德斯因此停了下来，说：先生们，我想告诉你们一个寓言。” 这使得大家全神贯注地听他讲话。泽马德斯说： 女神得墨忒耳(希腊神话中的谷物女神)曾经和燕子、鳗鱼一起旅行。他们来到一条没有桥的河边。燕子飞过，鳗鱼游过去。” 然后他沉默了。得墨忒耳怎么样？” 有几个观众喊道。 他回答说， 由于你们只听寓言，根本不关心公共事务，我对每个人都很生气。”

在集体和个人利益之间，太多自私的人只关心个人的得失，而不支持整体利益。