Category Archives: AESOP TALES
43.A Lesson for Fools
A crow sat in a tree holding in his beak a piece of meat that he had stolen. A fox which saw him determined to get the meat. It stood under the tree and began to tell the crow what a beautiful big bird he was. He ought to be king of all the birds, the fox said; and he would undoubtedly have been made king, if only he had a voice as well. The crow was so anxious to prove that he had a voice, that he dropped the meat and croaked for all he was worth. Up ran the fox, snapped up the meat, and said to him:
“If you added brains to all your other qualifications, you would make an ideal king.”
42.The Boy and the Hazelnuts
A BOY put his hand into a pitcher full of hazelnuts. He grasped as many as he could possibly hold, but when he tried to pull out his hand, he was prevented from doing so by the neck of the pitcher. Unwilling to lose his hazelnuts, and yet unable to withdraw his hand, he burst into tears and bitterly lamented his disappointment. A bystander said to him,
“Be satisfied with half the amount and you will readily draw out your hand.”
❖ Do not attempt too much at once.
❖ Life is a long lesson in humility.
41.The Boy and the Filberts
A boy put his hand into a jar of filberts, and grasped as many as his fist could possibly hold. But when he tried to pull it out again, he found he couldn’t do so, for the neck of the jar was too small to allow of the passage of so large a handful. Unwilling to lose his nuts but unable to withdraw his hand, he burst into tears.
A bystander, who saw where the trouble lay, said to him, “Come, my boy, don’t be so greedy. Be content with half the amount, and you’ll be able to get your hand out without difficulty.”
Do not attempt too much at once.
40.The Bowman and Lion
A SKILFUL BOWMAN went to the mountains in search of game, but all the beasts of the forest fled when he came near. The lion alone challenged him to combat. The bowman at once shot out an arrow and said to the lion,
“I send you my messenger that you may learn from him what I myself shall be when I assail you.”
The wounded lion rushed away in great fear, and when a fox who had seen it all happen told him to be of good courage and not to back off at the first attack, he replied,
“You counsel me in vain; for if he sends so fearful a messenger, how shall I withstand the attack of the man himself?”
❖ Be on guard against men who can strike from a distance.
