My favorite anecdote

[BobboFitos]

A young scorpion was stuck on one side of the yellow river. Needing to get across to his family, he spotted a turtle, who was sunbathing by the shore.

The scorpion approached the turtle and proposed his plan. "Turtle, I need to get across this river. Can you help me?"

The turtle, awakened from his nap, was astonished. "But scorpion! If I take you across the river, surely you'll sting me, and I will die!"

The scorpion thought for a minute, and said, "But turtle, surely you can see thats not in our best interests. If I sting you, yes, you will die, but I cannot swim; I will drown too."

The turtle reconsidered, and agreed to cross. What did he have to lose?

So the scorpion climbs on top of the turtle's shell, and they start making good progress across the languid river. They make it 1/4th of the way. Everything is fine.

Approaching the halfway mark - known as the point of no return, as it will be easier for them to complete their goal rather then turn back - the scorpion stings the turtle! The turtle, having just moments before the paralysis was certain to take place, said, "Scorpion!!! Why oh why did you sting me? I will drown, and so will you!"

The scorpion, moments before death would claim them both, responded, "I'm sorry turtle, it's just my nature."