"殺雞取卵"與"老鼠開會"

Goose that lays the golden eggs

A man and his wife had a good fortune to possess a goose which lays a golden egg every day. Lucky though they were, they soon began to think that they were not getting rich fast enough, and imaging that the bird must be made of gold inside. They decided to kill it in order to secure the whole store of precious metal at once. When they cut it open, they found it was just like other goose. Thus they neither got rich all at once as they had hoped nor enjoyed any longer the daily addition to their wealth.

下金蛋的鵝

一個農夫和妻子養了一隻鵝，這隻鵝每天都下一隻金蛋。儘管他們已經很幸運，但很快就不滿足目前的財富了，而且夫妻倆認爲鵝肚子裏準藏着許多金子，爲了儘快得到這筆財富，就把鵝殺了，結果發現這隻鵝的肚子裏跟其他任何一隻都是一樣的。夫妻倆不但沒有像他們想象的那樣變富，就連每天一隻金蛋也得不到了。
漢語中類似的說法有殺雞取卵、竭澤而漁。
A warning to shortsighted and greed people who kill the goose that lays the golden eggs 警告殺雞取卵者。

The mice in council

Once upon a time, all the mice met together in council and discussed the best means of securing themselves against the attacks of the cat. After several suggestions have been debated, a mouse of some standing and experience got up and said,
“I think I had hit upon a plan which will ensure our safety in the future, provided you approve and carry it out. It is that we should fasten a bell around the neck of our enemy the cat, which will, by its tinkling, warn us of her approach.”
This proposal was warmly applauded and they had already decided to adopt it. When an old mouse got upon his feet and said,
“I agree with you all that the plan before us is an admirable one. But may I ask who is going to bell the cat.” The mice looked at each other, but nobody spoke.

開會的老鼠們

一羣老鼠在鼠洞裏舉行會議，討論如何對付兇狠的貓。一隻有名望和經驗的老鼠站起來提出：“我有個方法，在貓的脖子上掛一個鈴。這樣，貓一走動鈴就響，我們就可以聞鈴聲而逃避了”，羣鼠一致同意這個建議並鼓掌歡呼。大家已經一致決定使用這個辦法。就在這時，一隻年長的老鼠站起來，說，“這的確是個絕妙的注意，但是問一下，誰去給貓掛鈴鐺呢？” 老鼠們面面相覷，誰也沒有說話。
寓言的大致意思是to do something dangerous in order to save others; to step forward bravely to face the danger; to take a risk for the good of others. 遇到困難的問題時候，既需要有出謀獻策的人，更需要有挺身而出的實幹家。