a peasant had in his garden an apple-tree which bore no fruit but only served as a harbor for the sparrows and grasshoppers. he resolved to cut it down,and taking his axe in his hand, b, he threw down his axe, and looking on the tree as sacred, took great care of it.

self-interest alone moves some men.

农夫的果园里有一棵苹果树，可是这棵树从来不结果实，只是给麻雀和蚱蜢提供了安家的地方。【【ABO】总裁的哑巴小奶包】农夫觉得留着它也没用，就抡起斧头想把它砍掉。他刚砍了一下，麻雀和蚱蜢就纷纷过来向他求情，恳求他别毁了他们的家园，并许诺每天唱歌为农夫解闷。可是，农夫根本就没有理睬他们，继续砍树。当砍到第三下的时候，农夫发现树洞里有一群蜜蜂和许多蜂蜜。他尝了一下蜂蜜，味道真是好极了，于是他马上丢下斧头。从此，这棵树得到了农夫细心的照顾。

私利是很多人行动的唯一动机。