In the old folktales of West Africa, Anansi the Spider is known as the cleverest creature in the entire forest. One day, Anansi decided to gather all the wisdom in the world into a single place, so that he alone would possess it, collecting it all inside one large, tightly sealed pot.

Anansi thought of a safe place to hide it from everyone else, deciding to tie the pot in front of his chest and climb to the very top of the tallest tree in the forest. But every time he tried to climb, the large pot bumped against the trunk and blocked his way. He tried again and again without success, while time slipped by and the sun began to set.

His young son, watching from below, said gently, «Father, wouldn't it be easier to tie the pot behind your back instead of in front of your chest?» Anansi did just that, and climbed the tree with ease. Suddenly, he realized something important: if he truly possessed all the wisdom in the world, how could his own young son think of a solution he had missed? Angry at himself, he broke the pot, scattering wisdom across every corner of the world so that a little of it might reach every single person — and Anansi learned that wisdom only grows when it is shared, never when it is hoarded.