Luck Always Beats Hard Work

Summary

In a forest where speed is revered, the arrogant Hare mocks the slow Tortoise. Challenged to a race, the Hare's overconfidence leads to a deep existential conversation about the nature of success and free will. The Tortoise's philosophical inquiry unravels the Hare's sense of self, ultimately causing him to forfeit the race. The Tortoise's victory and subsequent wisdom teach a lesson on the interplay of chance, effort, and the illusion of control in life.

Takeaways

• 🐰 The Hare's arrogance stems from his speed and success, leading to contempt towards slower animals like the Tortoise.
• 🐢 The Tortoise, though slow, is wise and challenges the Hare's conceit by questioning the source of his speed.
• 🏁 The race between the Hare and the Tortoise symbolizes the conflict between pride and humility.
• 🤔 The Tortoise's questions lead the Hare to reflect on the origins of his abilities, tracing back to his lineage and the environment.
• 🌌 The Hare realizes that his speed is not solely due to his efforts but also to a series of fortunate circumstances and evolutionary factors.
• 💭 The concept of free will is questioned, as the Hare's abilities are seen as a result of predetermined factors beyond his control.
• 🌱 The Tortoise emphasizes the importance of hard work despite the role of chance, suggesting that effort is still necessary to utilize one's gifts.
• 🎯 The story highlights the illusion of control over one's life, suggesting that we are all subject to larger forces.
• 🏆 The Tortoise wins the race not by speed but by strategy and persistence, demonstrating that success is not solely about innate abilities.
• 🔄 The Hare's epiphany leads to a change in perspective, understanding the limits of his control and the importance of humility.
• 🔄 The story concludes with the Hare seeking a rematch, indicating a willingness to learn from his experiences and grow.

Q & A

What is the main conflict between the Hare and the Tortoise in the script?

The main conflict is the Hare's arrogance and contempt towards the Tortoise due to his speed and success, which leads to the Tortoise challenging the Hare to a race.

Why does the Hare often ridicule the Tortoise in the forest?

The Hare ridicules the Tortoise because of his slow speed, lack of success, and low popularity, which contrasts with the Hare's own speed and popularity.

What is the significance of the Tortoise challenging the Hare to a race?

The challenge signifies a turning point in the story, where the Tortoise stands up to the Hare's arrogance and seeks to prove that speed and success are not the only measures of worth.

How does the Tortoise's challenge affect the Hare's perspective on his own abilities?

The challenge leads the Hare to question the source of his speed and success, ultimately realizing that much of it is due to factors beyond his control, such as genetics and environment.

What philosophical concept is explored through the Tortoise's questioning of the Hare?

The philosophical concept explored is determinism, which questions the idea of free will and the extent to which our actions are a result of external factors.

What is the Hare's initial reaction to the Tortoise's line of questioning about his speed?

The Hare initially reacts with annoyance and dismisses the Tortoise's questions as irrelevant to the race and his abilities.

How does the Tortoise explain the concept of 'useful delusion' to the Hare?

The Tortoise explains that even though our actions may be influenced by chance and external factors, it is still necessary to act as if we have control over our lives, as this belief motivates us to work hard and achieve.

What is the outcome of the race between the Hare and the Tortoise?

The Tortoise wins the race because the Hare, after being overwhelmed by the Tortoise's questions, does not participate in the race and remains lying in the grass.

How does the Hare's attitude change by the end of the script?

The Hare's attitude changes from arrogance and contempt to a realization of the limits of his control over his abilities and a willingness to accept a rematch, indicating a shift in perspective.

What is the deeper message conveyed by the Tortoise's victory in the race?

The deeper message is that success and abilities are not solely the result of individual effort but are also influenced by factors beyond one's control, and that humility and self-awareness are important virtues.

Outlines

00:00

🐰 The Hare's Arrogance and the Tortoise's Challenge

This paragraph introduces the setting at the foot of Mount Bedisa, a small forest inhabited by various animals, including a successful and popular hare and a slow, less popular tortoise. The hare's arrogance and contempt for the tortoise are highlighted, as he often ridicules the tortoise for his lack of speed. The tortoise, however, remains largely unaffected by the hare's taunts. The narrative builds up to the tortoise challenging the hare to a race, leaving the hare dumbfounded and setting the stage for a significant event.

05:05

🏁 The Race and the Tortoise's Philosophical Inquiry

In this paragraph, the tortoise and the hare engage in a conversation about the hare's speed and the reasons behind it. The hare explains his discipline and the lessons he learned from his father, attributing his speed to hard work and natural ability. The tortoise, however, probes deeper, questioning the hare's sense of control over his life and the role of chance in his abilities. This leads to a profound realization for the hare about the lack of true freewill and the role of cosmic events in shaping his existence. The tortoise's philosophical questioning culminates in the hare's decision not to participate in the race, allowing the tortoise to win by default. The tortoise returns to the hare, who is now questioning the purpose of their competition, to which the tortoise imparts a lesson about the necessity of effort despite the lack of control over one's life.

Keywords

💡Arrogance

Arrogance is a personality trait characterized by an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities. In the script, the Hare's arrogance is evident in his contemptuous behavior towards the Tortoise and other animals, believing himself to be superior due to his speed. It is a key element in the narrative as it leads to the Hare's downfall and realization about the nature of his abilities.

💡Popularity

Popularity refers to being well-liked or admired by many people. The Hare is described as one of the most successful and popular animals in the forest, largely due to his speed. However, his popularity is contrasted with the Tortoise's lack of it, highlighting the theme of how external perceptions can be influenced by superficial attributes like speed rather than character.

💡Contempt

Contempt is the feeling that someone or something is not worthy of respect or approval. The Hare shows contempt towards the Tortoise by mocking his slowness and lack of success, which is a driving force for the challenge to the race and the ensuing philosophical discussion about the nature of success and inherent abilities.

💡Race

A race, in this context, is a competition of speed. The Hare's love for racing is a central theme in the script, symbolizing his obsession with proving his superiority through speed. The race between the Hare and the Tortoise becomes a metaphor for the broader philosophical debate about determinism and free will.

💡Hard Work

Hard work is the effort put in to achieve a goal or task. The Hare attributes his speed to hard work and discipline, which he believes sets him apart from others like the Tortoise. It is a key concept in the script as it is challenged by the Tortoise's questioning, leading to a deeper reflection on the role of innate abilities versus effort.

💡Diligence

Diligence is the quality of being careful and conscientious in one's work or duties. The Hare prides himself on his diligence, running almost every day to maintain his speed. This concept is juxtaposed with the Tortoise's approach to life, which ultimately challenges the Hare's belief in the primacy of diligence in achieving success.

💡Discipline

Discipline is the practice of training oneself to follow a pattern of behavior or of learning. The Hare's discipline is a product of his upbringing and is portrayed as a key factor in his speed. However, the script uses this concept to explore the philosophical question of whether discipline is a choice or a result of one's circumstances.

💡Ego

Ego refers to a person's sense of self-importance. The Hare's inflated ego is evident in his constant need to prove his superiority and his disdain for others. The script uses the Hare's ego as a catalyst for the race and the subsequent existential crisis he experiences.

💡Determinism

Determinism is the philosophical belief that all events, including moral choices, are determined completely by previously existing causes. The Tortoise's questioning leads the Hare to confront determinism, as it is implied that his speed and success are not solely due to his own efforts but are also a result of his genetic and environmental factors.

💡Free Will

Free will is the power of making choices that are neither determined by natural causality nor predestined by fate or divine will. The script explores the concept of free will through the Hare's realization that his actions and abilities may not be as self-determined as he believed, challenging the idea that he is in control of his life.

💡Causality

Causality is the relationship between cause and effect. The Tortoise's line of questioning unravels the Hare's understanding of causality, showing that his speed and success are the result of a long chain of causes and effects, from his upbringing to the conditions of the universe after the Big Bang.

Highlights

The Hare, being one of the fastest animals in the forest, is also the most successful and popular.

The Tortoise, in contrast, is not fast, successful, or popular.

The Hare's arrogance leads him to ridicule the Tortoise and other animals, especially for their lack of speed.

The Tortoise challenges the Hare to a race, leaving the Hare dumbfounded.

The Hare explains his speed comes from hard work, discipline, and sacrifices made by himself and his ancestors.

The Tortoise questions the Hare's sense of control over his own abilities, tracing back to the origins of life.

The Hare is left confused and questioning his sense of self and free will after the Tortoise's philosophical inquiry.

The Tortoise wins the race as the Hare remains lying in the grass, contemplating his existence.

The Tortoise explains that while life is a result of chance, it is still necessary to act as if we have control.

The Hare decides to challenge the Tortoise for a rematch, showing his resilience and willingness to continue despite his existential crisis.

The story explores themes of arrogance, humility, and the philosophical implications of determinism versus free will.

The Hare's lineage and upbringing are revealed to be key factors in his speed and success.

The Tortoise's challenge and philosophical questioning serve as a catalyst for the Hare's introspection.

The race and the conversation between the Hare and the Tortoise highlight the importance of recognizing the role of both nature and nurture.

The Hare's initial overconfidence is contrasted with his later realization of the complexities of life's determinants.

The Tortoise's victory in the race symbolizes the triumph of perseverance and thoughtfulness over arrogance and blind confidence.

Transcripts

At the foot of Mount Bedisa, there was  a small forest where there lived animals  

of all types. One of which was a hare. Being one of, if not the fastest animal  

in a forest that coveted speed, the Hare was  by far one of the most successful and popular. 

One of the least was the Tortoise. He was  not fast, successful, or very popular at all. 

Overtime, the Hare’s success and popularity  had caused him to become incredibly arrogant,  

and he was often harsh and contemptuous toward  other animals—especially the Tortoise. He  

often scolded and ridiculed the Tortoise  whenever he saw him, saying things like,  

“Why don’t you get off your ass and  actually get something done?!” Or,  

“The truth is you’re just lazy! The forest  doesn’t owe you anything! If you want to be fast,  

you have to work for it! That’s what I did!”  Or, “Look at you. It seems like nobody wants  

to be fast these days! Why don’t you pull  yourself up by your paw claws and get moving!” 

The Tortoise was mostly unphased by this  sort of stuff, but it did mildly annoy  

him—especially whenever he saw the Hare saying  the same sorts of things to other animals. 

One day, the Tortoise had enough when he  saw the Hare lecturing a porcupine about  

how other animals never got close with  him because of his horrible attitude. 

The Hare loved to race. Everyone knew this.  He regularly challenged other animals,  

and he always won. Any chance he had to prove  and perform his superiority, he happily indulged. 

On this day, however, the  Tortoise challenged the Hare. 

The Hare was dumbfounded. “You want to race me?!” the  

Hare said, laughing profusely. “Yeah,” the Tortious said back  

with a straight face. After some more laughter,  

the Hare, of course, agreed, and the  event was planned for that evening. 

The Fox and some of the other animals began  preparing and clearing the race path. The Tortoise  

and the Hare waited by the starting line. After a few more moments passed,  

the Tortoise looked at the Hare and said,  “Say, how did you get so fast, anyway?” 

The Hare looked at the Tortious  with a confused look on his face. 

“Because unlike most animals, I actually  put in the work. I run almost every day.” 

“Hmm,” said the Tortoise. “Why do you do that?” The Hare paused for a moment. 

”Because … Because I understand the  value of hard work and being fast.  

And I’m diligent and disciplined about it!“ “Wow,” said the Tortoise, pausing for a moment.  

“How do you understand all that, though?” “Why are you asking stupid questions?” the  

Hare quickly said, slightly annoyed.  “You know you can’t suddenly become  

faster by asking questions, right?” “I’m just interested in your story,  

is all,” the Tortoise assured the Hare. The Hare never gave up a chance to stroke  

his own ego, and so, he quickly continued,  “Ok, well, I guess that’s just the way I am  

and how my brain works. I also learned it from my  parents. My dad was fast—not as fast as me, but he  

taught from a young age the importance of being  fast and how you have to make sacrifices to get  

faster and faster. He taught me self-discipline  and focus … gave me my work ethic. He worked so  

hard to make sure I had as many opportunities  as possible to practice and get better.” 

“Hmm,” said the Tortious. “What made him do all  that, do you think? How was he even able to?” 

“Well, because he worked hard too and made a  bunch of sacrifices himself … to become as fast  

as he could and live a life that allowed him  to spend time teaching me those same lessons!” 

“Wow,” said the Tortoise.  “But what made him that way?” 

“I don’t know! His dad.” “What about him?” replied the Tortious. 

“What about him?!” “What made him that way?” 

“I don’t know … his genes, being a hare,  being a hare during a time when those  

sorts of things were necessary for survival.” The Hare paused. The two were quiet for a moment. 

“Well, if he was like that because he was a  hare, and a hare during that time, what made him  

a hare during that time?” the Tortoise asked. “Holy shit,” the Hare said before answering. 

For ten more minutes, the Tortious continued  asking the Hare questions, prodding further  

and further into the past, deeper and deeper  into the explanation of the Hare’s speed. 

Finally, the hare reached  the beginning of everything,  

with no more causes and no more explanations left. “So,” said the Tortoise, “you’re fast because you  

were born a hare, a particular kind of hare, and  experienced a particular kind of life, but that’s  

only because of your parents, how your parents’  lives were, and where and when they had you,  

but all that was only because of their parents  and how they were, and where and when they were,  

all the way back to the first hares in history.  But there are only hares in history at all because  

life operates through … evolution … and ancient  lagomorphs mated and created the first hares, but  

that only happened because life started at all,  which only happened because the right conditions  

developed on Earth, but of course Earth only came  to exist because of billions of years of prior  

cosmic events, which all only happened because the  big bang occurred and time and space unfolded in a  

particular manner. So I guess technically, you’re  fast because the big bang occurred and time and  

space unfolded in a particular manner. Huh.” The Hare stared at the ground with widened  

eyes and tensed muscles throughout  his body and face. He was confused,  

but not because he didn’t understand. “What … what about me, though?” the Hare said,  

looking up, trying to hold onto his  lifetime worth delusions. “Of course,  

I made the difference! I choose to do what I  did with everything that’s happened to me!” 

“How?” replied the Tortoise. “How,  if you didn’t choose anything that’s  

happened to you, did you choose that?” “Freewill?” the Hare said, less confidently.  

“It’s one of the main things that makes  us hares different from everything else!” 

“Ok. But if everything that has happened to you  made you who you are, but you didn’t control or  

choose any of what happened to you, how do you  control who you are?” the Tortoise responded. 

The Hare fell backwards onto  his back, laying in the grass. 

Soon, the Fox reemerged from the now-cleared  race path. He approached the Hare and Tortious  

and got into position. He counted down. 

The Tortoise took off. The Hare  stayed laying in the grass. 

“What are you doing?!” the Fox  yelled. “The race started! Get up!” 

The Hare didn’t say anything,  rolling over onto his side. 

Slowly but steadily, the Tortoise  made his way down the race path,  

and eventually, past the  finish line, winning the race. 

After a celebration with some of the other  animals, the tortoise returned to the starting  

line. The Hare was lying flat on his back, looking  up at the sky. The Tortoise approached him. 

“I don’t understand,” the Hare  said without moving his body. 

“What?” replied the Tortoise. “Why did you even challenge me to the race? Isn’t  

it all pointless? Win or lose, it wasn’t really  because of you—at least not in the way that it  

feels like it is. It’s basically all just because  of arbitrary chance. I’m fast because I’m lucky.” 

The Hare rolled over onto his side. The Tortoise  moved a bit closer, feeling a little bad for him. 

“Yes, all that’s true,” said the Tortoise. “Being  fast, smart, successful, is not just hard work,  

even if it’s directly a product of hard work.  It’s chance. Even being someone who works hard is  

itself a product of chance. But working hard and  doing what your meant to do is still necessary.  

You still have to run to be fast.  And being fast is still useful. 

We’re all just pawns in the universe’s sick game,  tricked into carrying out its grunt work. When you  

don’t realize this, you act like a real peacock.  But it’s a useful delusion to believe that you are  

in control of your life. You have to know that  you have no freewill but live as if you do,”  

the Tortoise concluded. The Hare lay in silence for a moment. 

Then, he jumped back up to his feet. “Alright. Rematch then!” the Hare said.