10 Moral-Teaching Aesop's Fables

Aesop was a storyteller known for his numerous fables, which were designed to illustrate a particular lesson or moral-teaching. 
Thought to have been born around the 5th century BC, it's still uncertain whether Aesop existed or not. No writings by him survive, but stories have been credited to him through the centuries. Having said that, the fables that Aesop (whether he was real or fictional) have been named Aesop's Fables. Here is a collection of ten that I chose earlier today and put them together to make this post. Hope you enjoy. :)

1. The Ant and the Chrysalis

An Ant nimbly running about in the sunshine in search of food came across a Chrysalis that was very near its time of change. The Chrysalis moved its tail, and so attracted the attention of the Ant, who then saw for the first time that it was alive. "Poor, pitiable animal!" cried the Ant disapprovingly. "What a sad fate is yours! While I can run here and there, at my will, and, if I wish, climb the tallest tree, you lie imprisoned here in your shell, with power only to move a joint or two of your scaly tail." The Chrysalis heard all this, but did not try to make any reply.

A few days after, when the Ant passed that way again, nothing but the shell remained. Wondering what had become of its contents, he felt himself suddenly shaded and fanned by the gorgeous wings of a beautiful Butterfly. "Behold in me," said the Butterfly, "your much-pitied friend! Boast now of your powers to run and climb as long as you can get me to listen." So saying, the Butterfly rose in the air, and, flew along and aloft on the summer breeze, was soon was lost to the sight of the Ant forever.

Moral: Appearances are deceptive.

2. The Ass and His Masters

An Ass belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and be provided with another master. Jupiter, after warning him that he would regret his request, caused him to be sold to a tile-maker. Shortly afterwards, finding that he had heavier loads to carry and harder work in the brick-field, he petitioned for another change of master. Jupiter, telling him that it would be the last time that he could grant his request, ordained that he be sold to a tanner. The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master's occupation, said, groaning: "It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him."

Moral: He that finds discontent in one place is not likely to find 

happiness in another.

3. The Bear and the Two Travellers

 Credit: Milo Winter 

Two Men were travelling together, when a Bear suddenly met them on their path. One of them climbed up quickly into a tree and hid himself in the branches. The other, seeing that he would be attacked, fell flat on the ground, and when the Bear came up and felt him with his snout, and smelt him all over, he held his breath, and pretended to be dead as much as he could. The Bear soon left him, for it is said he will not touch a dead body. When he was gone, the other Traveller descended from the tree, and jocularly enquired of his friend what it was the Bear had whispered in his ear. "He gave me this advice," his companion replied. "Never travel with a friend who deserts you at the approach of danger."

Moral: Misfortune tests the sincerity of friends.

4. The Crab and its Mother

A Crab said to her son, "Why do you walk so one-sided, my child? It is far more becoming to go straight forward." The young Crab replied: "Quite true, dear Mother; and if you will show me the straight way, I will promise to walk in it." The Mother tried in vain, and submitted without protest to the reproof of her child.

Moral: Example is more powerful than precept.

5. The Dove and the Ant

An Ant, going to a river to drink, fell in, and was carried along in the stream. A Dove pitied her condition, and threw into the river a small twig, by means of which the Ant gained the shore. The Ant afterwards, seeing a man with a gun aiming at the Dove, stung him in the foot sharply, and made him miss his aim, and so saved the Dove's life.

Moral: Little friends may prove great friends.

6. The Fox and the Eagle

An Eagle and a Fox formed an intimate friendship and decided to live near each other. The Eagle built her nest in the branches of a tall tree, while the Fox crept into the undergrowth and there produced her young. Not long after they had agreed to this plan, the Eagle, being in want of provision for her young ones, swooped down while the Fox was out, seized upon one of the little cubs, and feasted herself and her brood. The Fox on her return, discovered what had happened, but was less grieved for the death of her young than for her inability to avenge them. 

A just retribution, however, quickly fell upon the Eagle. While hovering near an altar, on which some villagers were sacrificing a goat, she suddenly seized a piece of the flesh, and carried it, along with a burning cinder, to her nest. A strong breeze soon fanned the spark into a flame, and the eaglets, as yet unfledged and helpless, were roasted in their nest and dropped down dead at the bottom of the tree. There, in the sight of the Eagle, the Fox gobbled them up.

Moral: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. 

7. The Frogs and the Well

 

Two Frogs lived together in a marsh. But one hot summer the marsh dried up, and they left it to look for another place to live in: for frogs like damp places if they can get them. By and by they came to a deep well, and one of them looked down into it, and said to the other, "This looks a nice cool place. Let us jump in and settle here." But the other, who had a wiser head on his shoulders, replied, "Not so fast, my friend. Supposing this well dried up like the marsh, how should we get out again?"

Moral: Look before you leap. 

8. The Hare and the Tortoise

A Hare one day ridiculed the short feet and slow pace of the Tortoise, who replied, laughing: "Though you be swift as the wind, I will beat you in a race." The Hare, believing her assertion to be simply impossible, assented to the proposal; and they agreed that the Fox should choose the course and fix the goal. On the day appointed for the race the two started together. The Tortoise never for a moment stopped, but went on with a slow but steady pace straight to the end of the course. The Hare, seeing how far ahead it was than the tortoise, decided to lie down by the wayside and fell fast asleep. At last waking up, and moving as fast as he could, he saw the Tortoise had reached the goal, and was comfortably dozing after her fatigue.

Moral: Slow and steady wins the race.

9. The Lion and the Eagle

An Eagle stayed his flight and requested a Lion to make an alliance with him to their mutual advantage. The Lion replied, "I have no objection, but you must excuse me for requiring you to find surety for your good faith, for how can I trust anyone as a friend who is able to fly away from his bargain whenever he pleases?"

Moral: Try before you trust.

10. The Lion and the Mouse

A Lion was awakened from sleep by a Mouse running over his face. Rising up angrily, he caught him and was about to kill him, when the Mouse piteously entreated, saying: "If you would only spare my life, I would be sure to repay your kindness." The Lion laughed and let him go. It happened shortly after this that the Lion was caught by some hunters, who bound him by strong ropes to the ground. The Mouse, recognising his roar, came and gnawed the rope with his teeth and set him free, exclaiming: "You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help you, expecting to receive from me any repayment of your favour; now you know that it is possible for even a Mouse to con benefits on a Lion."

Moral: Little friends may prove great friends.

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