The horse passed by the cat every day on his way to the stable, and every day he found the cat asleep at the same exact spot, as if he were an outgrowth of the windowsill. He envied and pitied the cat at the same time. He envied the cat’s freedom but pitied the bad use he made of his free time. He himself slept only three hours per day and spent half of his awake time transporting goods to the city, and the other half grazing to gain back energies, while he knew for a fact that the cat spent more than half the day sleeping, and the other half he just lay at the same spot or strolled around listlessly.
This negligent way of living fed up the horse, who decided to give the cat a piece of his mind. He approached the window on his way back to the stable, and queried the cat: Aren’t you tired of doing nothing the whole day?
To which the cat answered: Now. How could that be logically possible?
So the horse said: Tired of seeing life pass you by while you sleep or do nothing worthwhile. You’re not forced to work, like me. So, why don’t you take advantage of your free time to go out and explore the world outside ?
To which the cat answered: What for?
So the horse said: What do you mean what for? To gain experience about the world. To learn about it and to be able to work more effectively and be more productive.
To which the cat answered: What for?
So the horse said: What do you mean what for? To enjoy the fruits of your labour and do more than merely survive. So you can afford luxuries, such as vacations in nice places, delicious food and all the comfort that money can buy.
To which the cat answered: What for?
So the horse said: What do you mean what for? So you can be fulfilled as an animal, knowing that you’ve achieved those goals and that you’ve lived and experienced lots of things in your lifetime.
To which the cat answered: What for?
So the horse said: What do you mean what for? So you can finally be at peace with yourself, and quietly rest, looking at the horizon, thinking of the great life you’ve had.
To which the cat answered: And what am I doing just now?
So the horse went back to toil away, feeling both envy for the cat and pity for himself.
***
