I wrote this years ago as part of a short story. I don’t remember what happened to the short story but here is what I do remember. Likely this was the important part….

A wise man says to the Sage, “Master, if I am wise, why am I not a sage?”

The Sage to the wise man, “A wise man does not fault the snake for biting him, because he knows it is the nature of the snake to bite.

Nor does he fault the poison from the snake’s fang for killing him, because he knows it is the nature of the snake’s venom to kill.”

Wise man, “Yes Master, I too know these things.”

Sage, “and that is why I say you are wise.”

Wise man dying, “But why am I not a sage?”

The Sage, “A sage knows these things without being bitten and avoids the snake rather than prove a point.”