The Gray Fox and the Red Fox: A Lesson in
Intelligence and Stupidity
As many of you following my blog know, I was born and
raised on a farm. My wise and observant father often used the animals and
events on our farm to teach me valuable life lessons. One such lesson involved
two young foxes, each with a different approach to survival.
After a violent thunderstorm, a gray baby fox was washed
onto our property one stormy day. A few weeks later, a red baby fox also
appeared. We assumed their mothers had likely fallen victim to coyotes. Though
the same age, the two foxes couldn’t have been more different.
The gray fox was intelligent and resourceful. He spent
hours observing the mice coming and going from the pumphouse, patiently
planning his next meal. One day, after lying in wait for over an hour in the
hot sun, he sprang into action, catching a mouse with a swift and decisive
pounce.
In stark contrast, the red fox appeared devoid of learning
capabilities. Despite witnessing the gray fox’s successful hunting strategies,
he relied on luck and instinct. He often doze off or wander aimlessly, never
inclined to learn and adapt.
As the sun set, another mouse emerged from the pumphouse
one evening. The red fox, half-asleep and driven by hunger, stumbled towards
it. The mouse, terrified, froze in place. Instead of seizing the opportunity,
the red fox hesitated, taking a few steps forward and then stopping. He sniffed the mouse in sheer stupidity, unwittingly providing it with a clear escape
route. The mouse, sensing its chance, darted away.
Watching from a distance, the gray fox seized the
opportunity created by the red fox’s blunder. He swiftly intercepted the
fleeing mouse, securing his second meal of the day.
Observing this scene, my father turned to me and said,
“Foxes are a lot like people. Some are intelligent, while others are
stupid. The gray fox, with his planning and perseverance, will thrive. With his
lack of effort and inability to learn, the red fox is destined for
hardship.”
The fate of the red fox remains uncertain, but my father’s
lesson resonated with me. Intelligence alone is not enough; one must also be
willing to learn, adapt, and work hard to succeed.
The story’s moral is that intelligence without application
is an unused tool. It’s the willingness to learn and the consistent effort that
truly separates the intelligent from the stupid. Remember, “Stupid is as
stupid does.”
