A village was separated from its farms by a river. Every morning, the farmers carried heavy loads across a narrow wooden bridge.
One day, an old farmer became ill and could no longer carry his harvest alone. Seeing his struggle, several young men stepped forward and offered to help.
As they prepared to lift the load, a man named Kwaku appeared. He folded his arms and stood in their way.
"I will not help carry it," he said.
The young men shrugged and tried to continue, but Kwaku blocked them.
"If I am not carrying it, neither should you," he declared.
The old farmer pleaded with him, but Kwaku refused to move. He neither lifted the burden nor allowed others to do so.
Hours passed. The harvest remained by the roadside, growing weaker under the scorching sun.
An elder who had been watching quietly approached and said, "Kwaku, a burden is made heavier not only by those who refuse to help, but also by those who prevent others from helping."
The villagers nodded in agreement.
Ashamed, Kwaku stepped aside. The young men immediately lifted the load and carried it across the bridge.
That day, the village learned an important lesson: some people do not carry the burden, yet they become part of it by standing in the way of those who would help.
From then on, whenever someone refused to help and also prevented others from helping, the villagers would simply say, "Do not be a man standing on the bridge."