A self-important lion in the jungle tried to make his mastery clear to all.
He was so confident that he paid no attention to the smaller animals and went right up to a bear. He asked the bear, "Who is the king of the jungle?" The bear replied, "Of course you are."
Then the lion asked a tiger the same question. The tiger replied with some reluctance, "Of course you are." And then he went to ask an elephant. But the elephant would not allow the lion to do so. He suddenly took hold of the lion with his long nose and bounced the lion against a tree, leaving him bleeding and badly shaken up.
When the lion finally got up, he blamed the elephant and said: "Even if you couldn't answer my question, it's not necessary for you to act so rough."