why did the ants tell the cricket 'WE ANTS NEVER BORROW WE ANTS NEVER LEND' when the cricket goes and asks for some food?

The cricket approached the ants in winter to ask for food. He had saved nothing for the cold winter, only played and danced all summer! The ants turned down the cricket's request as they had the policy of neither lending nor borrowing. They had worked very hard to collect food in summer to last them through the winter months. They were wise enough not to part with their share for the careless, lazy cricket.