"杀鸡取卵"与"老鼠开会"

Goose that lays the golden eggs

A man and his wife had a good fortune to possess a goose which lays a golden egg every day. Lucky though they were, they soon began to think that they were not getting rich fast enough, and imaging that the bird must be made of gold inside. They decided to kill it in order to secure the whole store of precious metal at once. When they cut it open, they found it was just like other goose. Thus they neither got rich all at once as they had hoped nor enjoyed any longer the daily addition to their wealth.

下金蛋的鹅

一个农夫和妻子养了一只鹅，这只鹅每天都下一只金蛋。尽管他们已经很幸运，但很快就不满足目前的财富了，而且夫妻俩认为鹅肚子里准藏着许多金子，为了尽快得到这笔财富，就把鹅杀了，结果发现这只鹅的肚子里跟其他任何一只都是一样的。夫妻俩不但没有像他们想象的那样变富，就连每天一只金蛋也得不到了。
汉语中类似的说法有杀鸡取卵、竭泽而渔。
A warning to shortsighted and greed people who kill the goose that lays the golden eggs 警告杀鸡取卵者。

The mice in council

Once upon a time, all the mice met together in council and discussed the best means of securing themselves against the attacks of the cat. After several suggestions have been debated, a mouse of some standing and experience got up and said,
“I think I had hit upon a plan which will ensure our safety in the future, provided you approve and carry it out. It is that we should fasten a bell around the neck of our enemy the cat, which will, by its tinkling, warn us of her approach.”
This proposal was warmly applauded and they had already decided to adopt it. When an old mouse got upon his feet and said,
“I agree with you all that the plan before us is an admirable one. But may I ask who is going to bell the cat.” The mice looked at each other, but nobody spoke.

开会的老鼠们

一群老鼠在鼠洞里举行会议，讨论如何对付凶狠的猫。一只有名望和经验的老鼠站起来提出：“我有个方法，在猫的脖子上挂一个铃。这样，猫一走动铃就响，我们就可以闻铃声而逃避了”，群鼠一致同意这个建议并鼓掌欢呼。大家已经一致决定使用这个办法。就在这时，一只年长的老鼠站起来，说，“这的确是个绝妙的注意，但是问一下，谁去给猫挂铃铛呢？” 老鼠们面面相觑，谁也没有说话。
寓言的大致意思是to do something dangerous in order to save others; to step forward bravely to face the danger; to take a risk for the good of others. 遇到困难的问题时候，既需要有出谋献策的人，更需要有挺身而出的实干家。