A fox whose tail had been cut off by a trap was so ashamed that she thought her life unbearable; so she resolved to persuade the other foxes to dock themselves likewise, in order to hide her own loss in the common mutilation. Accordingly she gathered them all and urged them to cut off their tails, saying that the tail was not only ugly but a useless weight. But one of the foxes spoke up and said, "Look here, my friend, if it weren't in your own interest, you wouldn't be giving us this advice."
*Advice offered from self-interest rather than goodwill deserves suspicion.Moral
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