a scorpion wants to cross a river and asks a fox to carry him across on his back. the fox hesitates, afraid that the scorpion will sting him. the scorpion argues "if i sting you we will both drown". the fox agrees, and they begin to cross the river. half way across, the scorpion stings the fox. as they both begin to sink, the fox cries out "why did you do that?" the scorpion replies "you knew from the start that i was a scorpion!"