Long ago, there was a big cat in the house. He caught many mice while they were stealing food.
One day the mice had a meeting to talk about the way to deal with their common enemy. Some said this, and some said that.
At last a young mouse got up, and said that he had a good idea.
"We could tie a bell around the neck of the cat. Then when he comes near, we can hear the sound of the bell, and run away."
Everyone approved of this proposal, but an old wise mouse got up and said, "That is all very well, but who will tie the bell to the cat?" The mice looked at each other, but nobody spoke.
從前,一所房子里面有一只大貓,他抓住了很多偷東西的老鼠。
一天,老鼠在一起開會商量如何對付他們共同的敵人。會上大家各有各的主張,最后,一只小老鼠站出來說他有一個好主意。
“我們可以在貓的脖子上綁一個鈴鐺,那么如果他來到附近,我們聽到鈴聲就可以馬上逃跑。”
大家都贊同這個建議,這時一只聰明的老耗子站出來說:“這的確是個絕妙的主意,但是誰來給貓的脖子上綁鈴鐺呢?”老鼠們面面相覷,誰也沒有說話。
寓意: 有些事情說起來容易,做起來卻很難。