“Go to the ant, you lazy one, discern her ways and become wise”
“Go to the ant, you lazy one; consider her ways and be wise.”
— Proverbs 6:6
This ancient proverb points to two remarkable qualities of the ant: industriousness and wisdom. Neither trait is taught to the ant in the way we understand education. And yet, she displays both with astonishing clarity.
I once read about an experiment that captured these traits vividly. A slice of chocolate cake was placed at the center of a dry platform, surrounded by water inside a large vessel. The setup was meant to be a challenge—an unreachable prize.
Soon, a few soldier ants appeared, scouting the situation. Not long after, the entire colony arrived. But how could they possibly access the cake?
They scaled the walls, marched across the ceiling, and then—astonishingly—parachuted down onto the dessert. With no hesitation, they began forming a living bridge across the water, linking themselves together to carry their sweet treasure home.
What seems to us like genius strategy is simply instinctive for the ant. And yet it shames many a clever human who avoids effort or shrinks from creative problem-solving. Nature, in her smallest creatures, often humbles us. The ant neither complains nor delays. She sees the task, works together with others, and achieves what seems impossible.
There is wisdom in that.
Two qualities regarding ants are observed by this proverb: industriousness and wisdom.
Some years ago, I read about an experiment where a chocolate cake was placed in the centre of a large vessel on a table. The experimenter surrounded the island the cake was placed on with water.
Within a short time, some soldier ants arrived on the scene and sought out the meal. Soon after, the whole colony returned with the soldiers to access the food. How could they possible do it?
They crawled up the wall, along the ceiling and parachuted down on the cake.
The, they made a “human” chain across the water island and transported the cake along. Fascinating instinctive wisdom.