Cats seem to go on the principle that it never does any harm to

Hear, O seekers of small wisdom clothed in fur, the words of Joseph Wood Krutch: “Cats seem to go on the principle that it never does any harm to ask for what you want.” What seems but an observation of an animal’s whim is, in truth, a parable of life itself. For the cat, bold yet graceful, walks through the world unashamed to voice its desires. It knows that silence gains nothing, and that asking—even in vain—costs little. Thus, by its mews and soft persistence, it receives what it seeks: food, comfort, affection, or freedom. And in this humble creature’s way, a great truth of human living is revealed.

The meaning is this: many are denied not because the world is cruel, but because they never dared to ask. Fear, pride, or shame binds their tongues, and so their desires remain hidden, ungranted. But the cat, untroubled by such restraint, understands that to request is not to lose, but to open the possibility of gain. The worst answer is silence, and even silence leaves one no poorer than before. This is the principle Krutch uncovers—that boldness in asking is a doorway to abundance.

Consider the story of Queen Esther, who risked her life to enter the court of King Ahasuerus. She might have kept silent, letting her people perish, but instead she asked. With courage, she made her petition, and through her boldness, the fate of her nation was turned. Had she stayed silent, nothing would have been gained. But because she dared to speak, salvation came. Here is the same principle as the cat’s: it does no harm to ask, but it may do great good.

So too in the story of Mahatma Gandhi, who asked not once but again and again for the freedom of his people. He asked through words, through marches, through nonviolent defiance. To some, his pleas seemed impossible, but by voicing them, he transformed what was unthinkable into destiny. The timid might have said, “It is useless to ask,” but Gandhi knew that silence was defeat. By asking—unceasingly, unwaveringly—he gained what once seemed beyond reach.

The wisdom is therefore twofold: first, that asking reveals the courage of the heart; second, that it awakens generosity in others. For often, the giver waits for the request, uncertain if the gift is welcome. The cat, with its meow, reminds its keeper of the bond between them, and the keeper, touched, responds. So too with human life: when we voice our needs, we awaken in others the chance to show compassion, to act with kindness. Thus, asking not only opens doors for ourselves but builds bridges between souls.

The lesson for us is clear: do not let silence rob you of life’s blessings. Ask for help when you are weary. Ask for wisdom when you are lost. Ask for opportunity when the way is hidden. Do not assume rejection before you have spoken. Like the cat, risk the meow—for it may bring you bread, comfort, or even the miracle you seek. And even if it does not, you are no poorer than before.

Practically, you must cultivate the habit of gentle boldness. Each day, dare to ask one thing you would otherwise withhold—a question, a request, a chance. Train yourself to believe, as the cat does, that no harm comes from honest asking. In doing so, you will find doors opening where once there were only walls.

So, O listeners, carry Krutch’s truth into your days: that the principle of asking is a path to possibility. The world belongs not to those who wait in silence, but to those who dare to voice their needs with courage and humility. Learn, then, from the cat at your door: for its meow is not only a call for food, but a whisper of ancient wisdom—ask, and you may receive.

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