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Aesop's Fables, translated by Laura Gibbs (2002)

497. THE MONKEY AND HER TWO CHILDREN
Perry 218 (Babrius 35)

The monkey gives birth to two babies, but after giving birth she does not mother them equally. She comforts one of them with cruel embraces, choking him with her unfortunate affection; meanwhile, she casts the other child away as superfluous and unimportant. This is the one who goes off into the wilds and is able to survive.
The same thing can be said about certain people: in such cases, it is better to be their enemy than their friend.

Note: For another fable about the monkey and her offspring, see Fable 253.

Source: Aesop's Fables. A new translation by Laura Gibbs. Oxford University Press (World's Classics): Oxford, 2002.
NOTE: New cover, with new ISBN, published in 2008; contents of book unchanged.