Story Summary
Discover the classic Aesop fable, Mercury and the Woodman. Learn how an honest laborer’s integrity is rewarded by a god while a greedy neighbor loses everything.
A poor woodman was cutting down a tree on the bank of a deep river when his axe accidentally slipped from his hand and sank into the water. Distraught at the loss of his only tool, he sat by the shore and wept. Mercury, hearing his cries, appeared and dived into the river. He emerged with an axe of solid gold, but the woodman shook his head, saying it was not his. Mercury dived again and returned with a silver axe; again, the honest man refused it. Finally, Mercury brought up the man’s own iron axe, which the woodman joyfully claimed. Impressed by his integrity, the god gave him all three axes as a reward. When a greedy neighbor heard of this, he intentionally threw his axe into the river and cried for help. Mercury appeared and offered him a golden axe. The greedy man instantly claimed it was his, but the god, disgusted by his lies, refused to give him the gold and would not even retrieve his original iron axe, leaving him with nothing.
The Moral
Honesty is the best policy, while greed and deceit eventually lead to a person's ruin.
“The honest man refused the gold, for it was not his own.”
Fun Fact
This fable is the origin of the common idiom 'Honesty is the best policy,' which has been used in English literature since the 16th century.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the moral of Mercury and the Woodman?
The moral is that honesty is rewarded while greed and lying are punished. It emphasizes that integrity has a higher value than material gain obtained through deceit.
Who is Mercury in this fable?
In Roman mythology, Mercury is the messenger of the gods, known for his speed and commerce. In the original Greek version of this Aesop fable, the god is Hermes.
Why did Mercury give the first woodman three axes?
Mercury rewarded the first woodman with the gold, silver, and iron axes because the man proved his absolute honesty by refusing to claim the precious metals as his own.
What happened to the greedy neighbor's axe?
The greedy neighbor lost his original iron axe forever. Mercury refused to retrieve it after the neighbor tried to lie and claim the golden axe was his.
What do the different metals of the axes represent?
The gold and silver axes represent temptation and worldly wealth, while the iron axe represents the woodman's humble reality and honest livelihood.
Is this story part of Aesop's Fables?
Yes, it is one of the most famous of Aesop's Fables, categorized under Greek folklore and used for centuries to teach children the importance of truthfulness.