How Supersmart Ate the Elephant

A jackal named Supersmart found an elephant that had died naturally in the forest, but its hide was too tough for him to tear open on his own. Before he could solve that problem, a lion arrived, and Supersmart, bowing low, offered the whole carcass as a gift to his king. The lion, too proud to eat what he had not personally killed, graciously refused and moved on.

Next came a tiger, and Supersmart, using flattery mixed with fear, spun a story that the lion himself had killed this elephant and left Supersmart on guard, warning that he had sworn vengeance on any tiger who dared to touch his kill again. The frightened tiger fled at once.

Then a leopard arrived, hungry and less easily intimidated by rank, so Supersmart used friendliness instead -- inviting him to eat quickly before the lion returned, promising to warn him in time to escape. The leopard's sharp teeth finally tore the tough hide open, and the moment the meat was accessible, Supersmart falsely cried that the lion was coming, sending the leopard fleeing too.

Only once the hide was open and the danger of rank or fear no longer applied did another jackal arrive, an equal with no reason to be flattered, frightened, or befriended -- so Supersmart simply fought him outright and drove him off.

What made Supersmart's plan work was not one clever trick repeated, but reading exactly who stood in front of him each time: bow to those above you, unsettle those who fear a fight, befriend those in need, and stand your ground only with equals.