The Tortoise and the Hare
A hare laughed at a tortoise for being so slow.
“Let us race,” said the tortoise. “You will see.”
The hare dashed ahead, then lay down for a nap, sure of winning.
The tortoise plodded on, step by step, never stopping.
When the hare woke, the tortoise was already at the finish line.
Moral: Slow and steady wins the race.
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
A shepherd boy watched sheep on a hillside and grew bored.
He cried, “Wolf! Wolf!” and the villagers came running — but there was no wolf.
He did it again, and again the villagers rushed up the hill for nothing.
Then a real wolf came. The boy cried “Wolf!” with all his might, but nobody came.
Moral: Liars are not believed, even when they tell the truth.
The Ant and the Grasshopper
In summer the ants hurried, storing grain for winter.
A grasshopper sang and fiddled and laughed at their hard work.
When winter came, the grasshopper was hungry and cold.
The ants had bread and corn enough — but they had warned him first.
Moral: Prepare today for the needs of tomorrow.
The Lion and the Mouse
A lion caught a little mouse under his paw.
“Please let me go,” squeaked the mouse, “one day I may help you.”
The lion laughed, but let the mouse go free.
Later, the lion was caught in a hunter's rope net.
The little mouse gnawed the ropes and set the lion free.
Moral: Even the small and weak can help the strong.
The Fox and the Grapes
A fox spied ripe grapes hanging high on a vine.
He jumped and jumped, but the grapes were out of reach.
At last he gave up and trotted away.
“They were sour anyway,” he said to himself.
Moral: It is easy to despise what you cannot get.
The Crow and the Pitcher
A thirsty crow found a pitcher with a little water at the bottom.
His beak could not reach the water, and the pitcher was too heavy to tip.
Then he had an idea. He dropped pebbles in, one by one.
The water rose higher and higher, until at last he could drink.
Moral: Little by little does the trick.
The North Wind and the Sun
The north wind and the sun argued over who was stronger.
They agreed: whoever could make a traveler take off his coat would win.
The wind blew hard and cold, but the man only wrapped his coat tighter.
Then the sun shone warmly, and the man soon took off his coat.
Moral: Gentleness persuades where force fails.
The Dog and Its Reflection
A dog carried a bone home in his mouth.
Crossing a bridge, he saw another dog in the water — with a bone!
He snapped at the reflection, trying to grab that bone too.
His own bone fell into the river and sank.
Moral: Greed often loses what it already has.
The Goose That Laid Golden Eggs
A farmer owned a goose that laid one golden egg every day.
Thinking to get all the gold at once, he cut the goose open.
Inside there was nothing but an ordinary goose.
Now he had no eggs and no goose at all.
Moral: Greed destroys the source of good fortune.
The City Mouse and the Country Mouse
A city mouse invited his country cousin to town.
In town there were fine crumbs and rich cheese — but also cats and traps.
“In the country I eat barley in peace,” said the country mouse.
“Better simple food without fear than feasts with danger.”
Moral: Peace is worth more than plenty.
The Wolf and the Crane
A wolf got a bone stuck in his throat.
He promised a crane a reward for pulling it out with her long beak.
The crane bravely pulled the bone free.
“Your reward,” said the wolf, “is that I did not bite your head off.”
Moral: Expect nothing from the wicked, even when you help them.
Belling the Cat
The mice met to plan how to escape the cat.
“Tie a bell on her neck,” said one, “so we can hear her coming!”
All the mice cheered — until one small mouse asked:
“Who will bell the cat?” No one volunteered.
Moral: Easier said than done.