Last week's recording is a cautionary tale with political messaging. The moral lesson is subtle: be careful what you wish for, and perhaps appreciate moderate leadership. Listen here:  Now, there is a shorter version to this fable that i enjoyed much. That one collapses the story to its essential elements and adds an explicit conclusion: "DON'T HAVE KINGS." Listen here:  Which one do you prefer? Let me know in the comments on YouTube!

Summary : In this  fable, we find an Ox who accidentally squashes a young Frog while taking a sip from a reedy pool. The wise old Frog, intrigued by the incident, asks about the reason behind the little one's sudden disappearance. The other Frogs paint a picture of the Ox as a gigantic monster, and the old Frog, keen to show her own size, puffs herself up. However, as the young Frogs insist that the monster was even larger, she continues to inflate until she bursts.  Moral Lesson & Analysis: The primary moral lesson is: “Pride is all good and well, but don’t think yourself bigger than you are.”  The old Frog's vanity and desire to seem bigger than she truly was ultimately led to her downfall. This story serves as a valuable lesson against excessive pride and self-deception.  In addition to this moral lesson, we can explore another perspective. The fable sheds light on the folly of comparing oneself to others. The old Frog's attempt to measure up to the Ox's size ...

Summary  In this   classic fable a pig wonders into a sheep meadow and the shepherd captures it.  The pig struggles and squeals.  The sheep around it mock its behavior and its frantic struggle because they’re used to being caught for shearing.  The pigs then explains that what the sheep is all well and good but the shepherd doesn’t want it for its wool…   Analysis  This table teaches us about the importance of thinking before judging.  The sheep are quick to laugh at the pig because they don’t understand the threat it faces.  They make the assumption that all situations are the same, but they lack the pig’s awareness.  Of course, the sheep’s calmness comes from ignorance and inability to think “outside the box”.  This is this fable wants us to perceive how some things might seem similar on the surface but they’re actually vastly different in their implications.   Moral lesson  The moral lesson of the fable is “ D...

Characters :  Fir Tree: Symbolizes pride, status, and arrogance. Bramble: Represents humility, practicality, and foresight. Summary : The Fir-tree looks down upon the Bramble and takes pride in its superior status. But, when the sound of the axe rings out, the Fir-tree realizes that having pride of place comes with its own set of disadvantages. In a moment of regret, the Fir-tree wishes to be like the Bramble. You can listen to the fable, here: Analysis : The moral of this story is that pride comes before a fall. The Fir-tree, who looked down upon the Bramble, is humbled by the sound of an axe. The story shows that even the most elevated status can be fleeting, and that the lowly Bramble has its own strengths. The story invites us to be humble and to recognize that everyone has their own unique gifts and talents. When we compare ourselves to others, we may miss out on the beauty of our own individuality. Additionally, the story highlights the importance of empathy and understanding...

Summary : The fable tells the story of a Cat who was so adept at catching Mice that they stayed hidden in their dens for fear of being eaten. In order to outsmart the Mice, the Cat pretends to be dead by hanging from a shelf, causing the Mice to come out and celebrate what they think is the Cat's demise. However, the Cat quickly pounces and catches several Mice as soon as they emerge. The Cat, still hungry for more Mice, then disguises itself in flour in a bin to lure them out. A wise old Rat recognizes the danger and warns the Mice to stay away, teaching them to be cautious and not fall for the Cat's tricks again. Analysis : This fable by Aesop illustrates the theme of using one's wits to avoid falling for deception and being cautious of apparent dangers. The Cat represents cunning and trickery, while the Mice symbolize those who are easily deceived due to their lack of awareness and vigilance. The story teaches the importance of being wise, alert, and discerning in order ...

THIS IS A SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS  on the fable written by Walter Crane  called " KING LOG & KING STORK"  in his book THE  BABY’S  OWN  ÆSOP,  BEING THE FABLES CONDENSED IN RHYME  WITH PORTABLE MORALS.  The story is based on the well known as fable " The Frogs who wished for a King ", for which I've already posted a summary and analysis and you can read on the link above. The fable Summary The frogs request a king from Jove, hoping for a more dynamic leader than a log. - Jove sends them a Stork, who rules over them, but instead of benevolently leading, he devours the frogs, showcasing the consequences of desiring a powerful ruler. - The fable concludes with the lesson that having kings can lead to disastrous outcomes. Analysis The fable reflects on the dangers of authoritarian rule and the negative consequences of placing blind faith in a single individual to govern. - It questions the notion of kingship and challenges traditional pow...

 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.

  Summary In the fable "The Bear and the Two Travelers" by Aesop, two travelers come across a bear in the woods. One of the travelers quickly climbs a nearby tree to save himself, while the other, unable to escape, lies flat on the ground, pretending to be dead. The bear sniffs and paws at the motionless traveler, thinking he is lifeless, and eventually leaves. Once the bear is gone, the traveler in the tree comes down and asks his companion what the bear had whispered to him. The other traveler jokingly replies that the bear had warned him to avoid traveling with a friend who abandons you in times of danger. The fable Analysis The moral lesson of this fable is that in difficult situations, true friendship and loyalty matter. It highlights the importance of standing by one another and providing support when faced with challenges. The fable teaches us to value and choose our companions wisely, as a true friend is someone who stays by our side during both good and bad times. St...

Summary This fable tells us the story of a farmer who felt compassion and pity for a snake stiff and frozen by the cold. He thus thought it wise to place the snake in his bosom, to save it apparently. But the snake, after having revived by the warmth and resuming its natural instincts, mortally bit the farmer. The farmer then, with his last breath, cried that he was rightly served for pitying a scoundrel. The moral lesson of the fable is: “The greatest kindness will not bind the ungrateful.” Analysis The moral lesson of this fable is a very important one and should be given due notice, though i find this fable as told here, not very successful for the following reasons:  The story talks about a farmer, to whom nature’s dangers are not unknown.  Why, why, why would a farmer ever place a poisonous snake in his bosom? So, it was naïve of  the farmer to rescue the snake in the first place and secondly, when he did, not carry it in a pouch but put it in his bosom. The fa...

Summary This is the story of a poor young lamb who happened to come across a wolf.  The wolf is trying to give a reason why he should eat the lamb and thus accuses it of eating in his pasture and drinking his water. The young innocent lamb explains to the wolf that none of his accusations is true. The wolf then eats the poor lamb without second thoughts saying “Well! I won’t remain supperless, even though you refute every one of my imputations.” The fable Analysis The moral lesson of this fable is that “The tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny.” In fact the wolf meant to eat the lamb all along, but was trying to justify the act to his victim. The fable comments on the behavior of cruel people and people with no morals who find pretexts to justify their atrociousness to themselves and/or to the world. This is often seen in people who know that what they intend to do is wrong, to begin with. But this is of no consequence to them and they have no pricking of the...

Summary In this fable a swallow is judging a crow about his plumage. The swallow, very proud for his geathers, goes as far as insulting the crow for his “black and stiff quills” that are not worth having and furthermore demanding of the crow to “show a little pride” and “dress better”.  The crow is not taken aback by the swallow’s insult but actually lashes back saying that the swallow’s feathers may do well in spring “but I don’t remember ever having seen you around in winter and that’ when I enjoy myself the most”. The fable Analysis The moral of the story is that “We wouldn’t judge our friends, if we could accept that we’re not all the same” or better yet I’d say that we should avoid being judgmental of others. We should avoid being selfish and narcissistic.  The swallow represents the person that thinks that is above all others and so took the answer he deserved for being narcissistic and arrogant. Through the crow this fable is showing that everyone on this world is diff...

Summary A wolf is found with a bone stuck on his throat. He can’t get it out and so he tries to find an animal to help him get rid of the obstacle that stops him from eating and is even threatening to his life. At last he manages to persuade a crane to help him with the promise of a reward afterwards. But after the task is done and the crane has put his long bill into the wolf’s throat and took the bone out the wolf snaps atthe crane when the latter asks for his payment. The wolf tells him that getting away with his life is payment enough for him as “You can go about boasting that you once put your head into a wolf’s mouth and didn’t get bitten off”. The Fable Analysis The moral lesson of this fable is: “Be thankful to escape unharmed when you do business with a scoundrel”. Is this a fable talking about ingratitude? Yes, from one perspective that is what this fable is talking about. Aesop is using the animals, again, to show an important truth. That oftentimes people that want to do we...

Summary This fable tells us the story of a cat who thought that was very clever. This cat heard that the birds were sick and so he decided to dress himself up as a doctor and try to trick the birds into letting him in their nest so that he would supposedly treat them. But the birds sew behind the cat's disguise and sent him on his way saying "we shall do very well, when we've seen the last of you". The Fable A Cat heard that the Birds in an aviary were ailing. So he got himself up as a doctor, and, taking with him a set of the instruments proper to his profession, presented himself at the door, and inquired after the health of the Birds. "We shall do very well," they replied, without letting him in, "when we've seen the last of you." Analysis The moral lesson of this fable is that " A villain may disguise himself, but he will not deceive the wise." Oftentimes Aesop's fables emphasize how important it is to be wise, so that one can...

Summary There was once a young fox who had never seen a lion before in his life. One day while he was out in the forest playing he heard a lion roaring. The little fox was terrified. "Dear me", exclaimed the Fox, hiding   behind a tree, "I never saw a lion before. What a terrible creature! His voice makes me tremble.". The fox happened to encounter the lion a second time. This time though he was not so much afraid. He was rather annoyed with the lion and thus thought   "I wish he would not make such a noise!". The fox met a lion a third time and this time he was not afraid at all. Rather he felt completely at ease with the lion so much so that approached the lion and said to him "Hello, there, old chap." The fable lets us know that the lion was so surprised with the fox’s audacity that he walked away without saying a word. The fable Analysis In this fable we see how a fox, that had never seen a lion before in his life, feels terri...

This fable tells us the story of some frogs who lived in a pond. Those frogs had the freedom to do whatever they pleased and had no ruler to order them around. But the fable tells us that all this freedom had spoiled them, so much so that they began asking from Jupiter for a king that would rule them as they deserved. With pomp and show and the right display of royalty.  Jupiter heard their pleas and to please them and keep them quiet he threw down the pond a huge log, which fell into the water with a great splash. The frogs were at first terrified and hid themselves. But they soon realized that king Log was tame and peaceable. And so, feeling contempt for the appointed king, they started complaining to Jupiter for the government.  Jupiter now angry and impatient with them sent down a new king. A Crane. This king was different from the passive Log, as he seized the frogs and ate them up. The remaining frogs ran away in fright and begged Jupiter to take away king Crane beca...