The short story or parable of the tourist and the fisherman (also known as the parable of the Mexican fisherman, the businessman and fisherman, etc) is one of my favorite short stories.
Tourist Businessman and Fisherman Parable Short Story
After reading the story of “The Mexican Fisherman” in Erin Loechner’s book Chasing Slow (Book Summary). I did some quick searching to try to find the author and when it was originally published.
Interestingly, it doesn’t seem to pop up in Google search results until February 1, 2001. After some deeper investigative work, it looks like the original story was published in 1963 by German writer Heinrich Böll as Anekdote zur Senkung der Arbeitsmoral—translated as “Anecdote Concerning the Lowering of Productivity” or “Anecdote on Lowering the Work Ethic” (Wikipedia).
“Original” is almost always up for debate. It’s most likely that this is an ancient story passed down by generations in different ways (see the comment on this post below). Even though it’s been adapted many ways over the years, the slow living message remains the same. Below, I’ve outlined the original version as well as a modern adaptation. Enjoy! And, always remember to ask yourself, “And then?”
If you want to watch a short video to get the gist, I enjoyed this version:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/k7JlI959slY
This version is paraphrased and lightly edited from Hansjörg Bittner’s translation of “Anekdote zur Senkung der Arbeitsmoral” by Heinrich Böll (PDF):
In a port on the western coast of Europe, a man wearing shabby clothes lies in his fishing boat and dozes in the sunshine. A smartly dressed tourist takes pictures of the idyllic scene. The tourist is concerned about the welfare of the man in shabby clothes.
Tourist: “You won’t put to sea today? Do you not feel well?”
Fisherman: “I feel splendid. I’ve never felt better.”
Tourist: “But why, then, do you not put to sea?”
Fisherman: “Because I already put to sea this morning.”
Tourist: “Did you make a good catch?”
Fisherman: “My catch was so good that I need not put to sea for a second time. I had four lobsters in my baskets and caught nearly two dozen mackerel. I even have enough for tomorrow and the day after.”
Tourist: “I do not want to meddle in your personal affairs, but just imagine you put to sea today for a second, a third, or perhaps even a fourth time—and you catch three, four, five, maybe even ten dozen mackerel. Just imagine that!”
Fisherman: “And then?”