A boy playing by a river lost his footing and fell into the water.
Because he didn't know how to swim, he was in danger of drowning.
The boy then saw a man walking by and called to him for help.
Instead of helping, the man scolded the boy, and said, 'If you don't know how to swim, why on earth did you dare to try these swollen river waters?'
The drowning boy replied, 'Right now I just need your help; you can lecture me about it afterwards!'
The fable shows that people who lecture someone during a moment of crisis are offering criticism that is inappropriate and out of place.
Moral
Practical help is ususally more useful than verbal advice.
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