A viper1 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 covetous2(贪婪的) are poor givers.