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    The Fox and the Goat
    A fox one day fell into a deep well and could find no means of escape. A Goat, overcome with thirst, came to the same well, and seeing the Fox, inquired if the water was good. Concealing his sad plight under a merry guise, the Fox indulged in a lavish praise of the water, saying it was excellent beyond measure, and encouraging him to descend. The Goat, mindful only of his thirst, thoughtlessly jumped down, but just as he drank, the Fox informed him of the difficulty they were both in and suggested a scheme for their common escape. If, said he, you will place your forefeet upon the wall and bend your head, I will run up your back and escape, and will help you out afterwards. The Goat readily assented and the Fox leaped upon his back. Steadying himself with the Goat's horns, he safely reached the mouth of the well and made off as fast as he could. When the Goat upbraided him for breaking his promise, he turned around and cried out, You foolish old fellow! If you had as many brains in your head as you have hairs in your beard, you would never have gone down before you had inspected the way up, nor have exposed yourself to dangers from which you had no means of escape.
    Look before you leap.

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  7  /  19  

The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
Once upon a time a Wolf resolved to disguise his appearance in order to secure read more

The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
Once upon a time a Wolf resolved to disguise his appearance in order to secure food more easily. Encased in the skin of a sheep, he pastured with the flock deceiving the shepherd by his costume. In the evening he was shut up by the shepherd in the fold; the gate was closed, and the entrance made thoroughly secure. But the shepherd, returning to the fold during the night to obtain meat for the next day, mistakenly caught up the Wolf instead of a sheep, and killed him instantly.
Harm seek. Harm find.

by Aesop Found in: Aesop fables Quotes,
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  22  /  30  

The Fawn and His Mother
A young fawn once said to his Mother, You are larger than a dog, and read more

The Fawn and His Mother
A young fawn once said to his Mother, You are larger than a dog, and swifter, and more used to running, and you have your horns as a defense; why, then, O Mother! do the hounds frighten you so? She smiled, and said: I know full well, my son, that all you say is true. I have the advantages you mention, but when I hear even the bark of a single dog I feel ready to faint, and fly away as fast as I can.
No arguments will give courage to the coward.

by Aesop Found in: Aesop fables Quotes,
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  19  /  35  

The Boy Hunting Locusts
A boy was hunting for locusts. He had caught a goodly number, when he saw a read more

The Boy Hunting Locusts
A boy was hunting for locusts. He had caught a goodly number, when he saw a Scorpion, and mistaking him for a locust, reached out his hand to take him. The Scorpion, showing his sting, said: If you had but touched me, my friend, you would have lost me, and all your locusts too!

by Aesop Found in: Aesop fables Quotes,
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  26  /  43  

The Old Woman and the Wine-Jar
An old woman found an empty jar which had lately been full of prime read more

The Old Woman and the Wine-Jar
An old woman found an empty jar which had lately been full of prime old wine and which still retained the fragrant smell of its former contents. She greedily placed it several times to her nose, and drawing it backwards and forwards said, O most delicious! How nice must the Wine itself have been, when it leaves behind in the very vessel which contained it so sweet a perfume!
The memory of a good deed lives.

by Aesop Found in: Aesop fables Quotes,
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  22  /  19  

The Ants and the Grasshopper
THE ANTS were spending a fine winter's day drying grain collected
in the summertime. read more

The Ants and the Grasshopper
THE ANTS were spending a fine winter's day drying grain collected
in the summertime. A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed
by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of
him, Why did you not treasure up food during the summer?' He
replied, I had not leisure enough. I passed the days in
singing. They then said in derision: If you were foolish enough
to sing all the summer, you must dance supperless to bed in the
winter.
It is thrifty to prepare today for the wants of tomorrow.

by Aesop Found in: Aesop fables Quotes,
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  14  /  36  

The Cat and the Birds
A cat, hearing that the Birds in a certain aviary were ailing dressed himself up read more

The Cat and the Birds
A cat, hearing that the Birds in a certain aviary were ailing dressed himself up as a physician, and, taking his cane and a bag of instruments becoming his profession, went to call on them. He knocked at the door and inquired of the inmates how they all did, saying that if they were ill, he would be happy to prescribe for them and cure them. They replied, We are all very well, and shall continue so, if you will only be good enough to go away, and leave us as we are.

by Aesop Found in: Aesop fables Quotes,
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  9  /  24  

The Boasting Traveler
A man who had traveled in foreign lands boasted very much, on returning to his own country, read more

The Boasting Traveler
A man who had traveled in foreign lands boasted very much, on returning to his own country, of the many wonderful and heroic feats he had performed in the different places he had visited. Among other things, he said that when he was at Rhodes he had leaped to such a distance that no man of his day could leap anywhere near him as to that, there were in Rhodes many persons who saw him do it and whom he could call as witnesses. One of the bystanders interrupted him, saying: Now, my good man, if this be all true there is no need of witnesses. Suppose this to be Rhodes, and leap for us.

by Aesop Found in: Aesop fables Quotes,
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  11  /  30  

The Vine and the Goat
A vine was luxuriant in the time of vintage with leaves and grapes. A Goat, read more

The Vine and the Goat
A vine was luxuriant in the time of vintage with leaves and grapes. A Goat, passing by, nibbled its young tendrils and its leaves. The Vine addressed him and said: Why do you thus injure me without a cause, and crop my leaves? Is there no young grass left? But I shall not have to wait long for my just revenge; for if you now should crop my leaves, and cut me down to my root, I shall provide the wine to pour over you when you are led as a victim to the sacrifice.

by Aesop Found in: Aesop fables Quotes,
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The Oxen and the Butchers
The oxen once upon a time sought to destroy the Butchers, who practiced a trade read more

The Oxen and the Butchers
The oxen once upon a time sought to destroy the Butchers, who practiced a trade destructive to their race. They assembled on a certain day to carry out their purpose, and sharpened their horns for the contest. But one of them who was exceedingly old (for many a field had he plowed) thus spoke: These Butchers, it is true, slaughter us, but they do so with skillful hands, and with no unnecessary pain. If we get rid of them, we shall fall into the hands of unskillful operators, and thus suffer a double death: for you may be assured, that though all the Butchers should perish, yet will men never want beef.
Do not be in a hurry to change one evil for another.

by Aesop Found in: Aesop fables Quotes,
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