One night, the weather was freezing cold outside. A group of monkeys were on a tree, clinging to its branches. One of the monkeys said, “I wish we could find some fire. It will help us keep warm.”
Suddenly they noticed a flock of fireflies. One of the young monkeys thought it was a fire. He caught one of the fireflies and put it under a dry leaf and started blowing at it. Some other monkeys also joined in his efforts.
In the meanwhile, a mother sparrow returned to its nest, which was on the same tree the monkeys were sitting on. She noticed what they were doing. The sparrow laughed and said, “Hey silly monkeys that’s a firefly, not real fire. I think all of you should take shelter in a cave to stay warm.”
The monkeys did not listen to the sparrow. They continued to blow at the poor firefly.
After some time, the monkeys became very tired and cold. Now they realized that what the sparrow had said was correct, so they set the firefly free and moved to a nearby cave.
Moral: While persistence is one of the most defining qualities of a good student, there’s always something new to be learned every day! The monkeys in the story sure are persistent but their hard work didn’t pay off because they refused to listen, at least initially. Always listen to what your elders have to say. They have more experience than you!