Don't miss my new video on YouTube, about the great Greek fabulist! As appeared in Project Gutenberg “Aesop's Fables” , Translated by George Fyler Townsend. The video delves into the life and history of Aesop, a renowned Greek fabulist. Born around 620 B.C. as a slave, Aesop gained freedom through his wit and wisdom. He traveled widely, encountering prominent figures like Croesus and philosophers such as Solon and Thales. Aesop's fables were used diplomatically to reconcile conflicts in various Greek cities, but his refusal to bribe the Delphians resulted in his unjust execution. Despite his tragic end, Aesop was posthumously honored with a statue in Athens. These established facts stand in contrast to earlier, fictitious accounts of Aesop's life, discredited by later scholarship. French scholar M. Mezeriac's meticulous research in the 17th century shed light on the true story of Aesop, separating fact from fiction perpetuated by earlier accounts, such as the unre...

  Summary The fable "The Boy and the Scorpion" is about a boy who is hunting for locusts and mistakes a scorpion for a locust. The scorpion warns the boy not to touch him, as he will lose all of his locusts if he does.  The fable Analysis The moral lesson of this fable is that it is important to be able to distinguish between different things in life to avoid making mistakes that could harm you or cause you to lose everything you have worked hard to obtain. This fable teaches us not to be too hasty in our actions and to be careful not to mistake one thing for another. It also encourages us to be more aware of our surroundings and to pay attention to the details, so that we can avoid making costly mistakes.

 In Ivan Turgenev's short story "Two Rich Men," the author contrasts the philanthropy of the wealthy Rothschild with the selfless generosity of a poor peasant family. While Rothschild is praised for his financial contributions, the story highlights the humble actions of the peasant family who took in an orphan niece despite their own poverty. The family's willingness to sacrifice for the orphan emphasizes a deeper sense of compassion that surpasses the wealth of Rothschild. Listen to this short story: