a fisherman who lived on the produce of his nets, one day caught a single small fish as the result of his day’s labor. the fish, panting convulsively, thus entreated for his life: “o sir, what good can i be to you, and how little am i worth? i am not yet come to my full size. pray spare my life, and put me back into the sea. i shall soon become a large fish fit for the tables of the rich, and then you can catch me again, and make a handsome profit of me.” the fisherman replied, “i should indeed be a very simple fellow if, for the chance of a greater uncertain profit, i were to forego my present certain gain.”