Cobwebs from an Empty Skull

A stone which had lain for centuries in a hidden place complained to Allah that remaining so long in one position was productive of cramps.

“If thou wouldst be pleased,” it said, “to let me take a little exercise now and then, my health would be the better for it.”

So it was granted permission to make a short excursion, and at once began rolling out into the open desert.  It had not proceeded far before an ostrich, who was pensively eating a keg of nails, left his repast, dashed at the stone, and gobbled it up.

This narration teaches the folly of contentment:  if the ostrich had been content with his nails he would never have eaten the stone.