The farmer and the sheep

A parable for our modern times.

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A stock agent visited a huge sheep station in New Zealand’s high country. Looking over the boundless expanse of the Hakataramea Valley, filled as far as they eye would carry you with sheep grazing and wandering to and fro, the stock agent shrugged and said, “I can’t give you a price unless I know how many sheep there are in your flock”.

The farmer stood quite still, and stared down the valley. After about a minute he turned to the agent. “Eight thousand, four hundred and twenty six”.

“Hell’s bells! How on earth did you manage that?” gasped the stock agent.

“Easy. I counted all the legs and divided by four”.

See also

• Plain English