Adapted from The Star Thrower
by Loren Eiseley (1907-1977)
as published on http://muttcats.com/starfish.htm

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing.  He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer.  He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all.  The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning!  May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied, "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out.  If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile?  You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean.  As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."

This story has appeared all over the web in various forms, usually with no credit given to Mr. Eiseley.  Sometimes it is a little girl throwing the starfish into the ocean, sometimes a young man, once even an elderly Indian.  In any form it is a beautiful story and one that makes you think.

Loren Eiseley was a anthropologist who wrote extensively.  He was the "wise man" in the story, and he was walking along a beach after a storm and encountered the fellow throwing the starfish back.  I have not had a chance to read the original book yet myself but will post more background info here after I do.