Story Summary
Experience the timeless lesson of The Shepherd Boy and the Wolf. A young prankster learns that honesty is vital when his false alarms lead to a real tragedy.
A bored shepherd boy sat on the hillside watching the village sheep. To amuse himself, he ran toward the village shouting, 'Wolf! Wolf!' The villagers dropped their work and ran to help, only to find the boy laughing at their concern. A few days later, he played the same trick, and again the villagers rushed to his aid, only to be mocked once more. Finally, a real wolf emerged from the forest and began attacking the flock. The boy cried out in terror, 'Wolf! Help me!' but the villagers, thinking it was just another prank, stayed at their work. The wolf feasted upon the sheep, leaving the boy to weep over the consequences of his deceit.
The Moral
Liar's are not believed even when they speak the truth.
“Nobody believes a liar, even when he is telling the truth.”
Fun Fact
This fable is the direct origin of the popular English idiom 'to cry wolf,' which has been used in literature and daily speech for centuries to describe false alarms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the moral of The Shepherd Boy and the Wolf?
The moral is that honesty is essential for building trust. If you develop a reputation as a liar, people will not believe you even when you are telling the absolute truth during a crisis.
Who wrote The Shepherd Boy and the Wolf?
The story is attributed to Aesop, a storyteller believed to have lived in ancient Greece. It is one of his most famous fables used to teach children about the value of truthfulness.
Why didn't the villagers help the boy the third time?
The villagers had been deceived twice before by the boy's false alarms. They assumed he was playing another trick and refused to be made fools of again, unaware the danger was real.
What happens to the sheep in the story?
In most versions, the wolf scatters or kills the sheep because the boy cannot defend them alone. This illustrates that the consequences of lying often hurt more than just the liar.
Where does the phrase 'crying wolf' come from?
The English idiom 'to cry wolf' comes directly from this fable. It refers to the act of giving a false alarm, which causes people to ignore future warnings when they are actually needed.
Is there a version where the boy is eaten?
While most child-friendly versions focus on the loss of the sheep, some older or darker variations of the folklore suggest the wolf attacks the boy as well to emphasize the danger of his actions.