Category: Fables
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The Lion and the Mouse
A mighty lion and a humble mouse cross paths in this tale of unexpected reciprocity. The lion, king of the savanna, initially captures the tiny mouse and, amused by the little creature’s pleas, decides magnanimously to spare its life. The grateful mouse squeaks that it will return the favor someday, which the lion finds laughable—how…
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The Fox and the Grapes
A hungry fox spies a cluster of ripe grapes hanging high on a vine. The grapes look delicious, and the fox eagerly leaps to snatch them, but they hang just out of reach. After repeated failures to obtain the fruit, the fox scoffs, “Oh, you’re probably sour anyway!” and trots off, convincing himself that he…
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The Tortoise and the Hare
A hare, swift and self-assured, and a tortoise, slow but steadfast, agree to race one another. Bolting ahead easily, the hare becomes so overconfident in his lead that he stops to nap midway. The plodding tortoise, meanwhile, never pauses and eventually passes the sleeping hare to reach the finish line first. This fable’s popular moral,…
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The Boy Who Cried Wolf
This fable, numbered 210 in the Perry Index of Aesop’s tales, concerns a young shepherd boy who repeatedly deceives villagers by shouting that a wolf is attacking the flock. Twice the alarmed villagers rush to help, only to find the boy’s cries were a prank. When eventually a real wolf appears and the boy desperately…
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The Ant and the Grasshopper
In this classic tale, a hard-working ant labors all summer to store food, while a carefree grasshopper sings and plays. When winter arrives and the grasshopper finds itself starving, it begs the ant for food—but the ant reproaches its idleness and refuses to help. The straightforward moral is that diligent preparation and industry are rewarded,…