从前，所有的老鼠聚集在一起，开会商讨免受猫攻击的良策。几个建议相继都被否决之后，一隻很有威望且经验丰富的老鼠站起来，说：“我忽然想到一个办法，可以确保大家未来的安全，假如你们贊成的话，我们就这麽办。这个办法是，我们应该在敌人的脖子上挂一个铃铛，猫走路时發出的叮噹声，就会警告我们——猫要来了。”他的提议受到了大家的贊同，都决定採用这个办法，就在这时，一隻年长的老鼠伸出他的前爪，说：“我也贊同这是一个绝妙的好办法，但是，我想问一下，谁去给猫系铃铛呢？”

【老鼠开会的寓意】想出一个好主意也许不难，实现它就不那麽容易了。

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 had been debated, a Mouse of some standing and experience got up and said, “I think I have 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 round the neck of our enemy the cat, which will by its tinkling warn us of her approach.” This proposal was warmly applauded, and it had been 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?”