The viper and the file

A viper entered a carpenter's shop, and went from one to another of the tools, begging for something to eat. Among the rest, he addressed himself to the file（锉刀）, and asked for the favour of a meal. The file replied in a tone of pitying contempt, "What a simpleton（傻子，笨蛋） you must be if you imagine you will get anything from me, who invariably take from every one and never give anything in return."

The covetous（贪婪的） are poor givers.