The Wolf and the Billy Goat — Aesop Redux

Breaking the law is sometimes the best option.

If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight, even though the ruler forbid it; if fighting will not result in victory, then you must not fight even at the ruler’s bidding.¹

— Sun Tzu, The Art of War

The wolf had been terrorizing billy goats for many years. Several billy goats had been caught and eaten, and it did not appear that billy goats would be able to escape the clutches of the wolf anytime soon.

However, on one fine day, while the wolf expected a delicious goat dinner, the billy goat figured out a way to get up on the roof of the barn where the wolf could not go. The wolf cursed the billy goat vehemently. As time went on all the billy goats realized they could escape the wolf by retreating to the roof of the barn. Often they taunted the wolf, down on the ground below them, which made the wolf very angry.

It so happened that this wolf had an uncle, also a wolf, who was a judge in those parts of the country. The wolf went to his uncle and explained his problem. His uncle thought for a moment then decreed, before slamming his gavel down,

“Billy goats are not allowed on barn roofs.”

So the next time the wolf chased the billy goat he very quickly, once again, retreated to the top of the barn, whereupon the wolf said:

“You can’t be on the roof. The law says so.”

The billy goat replied:

“I don’t care about your laws.”

Don’t let your enemies set the rules of engagement.