The Old Man and The Rat

One morning, an old man was strolling along a river, deep within his own thoughts, when he heard loud squeaking and splashing coming from the river. He walked over to the edge and saw a rat holding onto a branch that has been caught in the water by some rocks. He quickly bent down and stretched himself out, trying to keep balance with one hand gripping the grass on the bank, with his other hand swaying dangerously above the rushing water. He reached out to try and rescue the drowning rat. The moment he touched the rat, it bit him. The old man withdrew his hand instinctively, after he regained his balance, he tried again. Again, the rat bit him. This time, the rat bit him so hard, the tip of his index finger started to bleed. He tried once more, and his middle finger started bleeding too. 

Another man was just passing the river, he noticed the old man's actions. He called out to him:"Hey, old man, what are you doing? No one would risk his life for a life of an evil creature. Come back here and protect your own life!"

The old man turned towards the other person. Looking calmly into his eyes, the old man said:"Just because it is the rat's nature to defend itself, that doesn't change my nature to save."