The Monkey and the Nuts

A certain city, desiring to purchase a site for a public deformatory, procured an appropriation from the government of the country. However, the officials deemed this amount insufficient for both the purchase of the site and the payment of reasonable commissions to themselves.

In light of this, the men in charge of the matter requested a larger sum, which was readily granted. Believing that the funds could be endlessly replenished, they continued to apply for even more money, again and again.

Eventually, wearied by their incessant demands, the government declared that it would be damned if it gave anything further. Consequently, it chose to provide nothing at all, and in doing so, felt even more damned by the situation.