MF
MoralFables
AesopGreed

The Ass and His Shadow

In the simple short story "The Ass and His Shadow," a traveler hires an ass for transportation and seeks refuge from the intense heat under its shadow. A dispute ensues between the traveler and the ass's owner over who has the right to the shadow, escalating to a physical fight, during which the ass gallops away. This famous fable with moral illustrates that in quarreling over trivial matters, we often lose what is truly important, making it one of the best moral stories suitable for short bedtime stories with moral lessons.

2 min read
3 characters
The Ass and His Shadow - Aesop's Fable illustration about Greed, Conflict, Loss
2 min3
0:000:00
Reveal Moral

"In our disputes over minor matters, we may overlook and lose what truly matters."

You May Also Like

The Thieves and the Cock - Aesop's Fable illustration featuring Thieves and Cock
greedAesop's Fables

The Thieves and the Cock

In "The Thieves and the Cock," a group of thieves steals a rooster but decides to kill it, only to have the rooster plead for its life by highlighting its role in waking people for work. The thieves reject his plea, illustrating a key lesson learned from stories: those with malicious intent despise anything that promotes virtue. This humorous story serves as one of the best moral tales, reminding us that the safeguards of virtue are often hated by those who wish to do wrong.

ThievesCock
greedRead Story →
The Salt Merchant and His Ass - Aesop's Fable illustration featuring Peddler and Ass
DeceptionAesop's Fables

The Salt Merchant and His Ass

In this quick moral story, a peddler's Ass attempts to lighten its load of salt by intentionally falling into a stream, but the clever peddler sees through this trick and replaces the salt with sponges. When the Ass falls again, the sponges absorb water, resulting in a double burden instead of relief. This folklore teaches a meaningful lesson on the consequences of deceit in life-changing stories with moral implications for students.

PeddlerAss
DeceptionRead Story →
The Old Lion - Aesop's Fable illustration featuring Lion and Boar
the inevitability of declineAesop's Fables

The Old Lion

In the short story "The Old Lion," a once-mighty lion, now frail and ill, faces attacks from various animals seeking revenge or asserting dominance, culminating in humiliation from an ass. His lamentation that enduring insults from such a lowly creature feels like a second death underscores the poignant moral of the tale: true dignity is often tested in moments of vulnerability. This concise moral story is a powerful addition to short story collections with moral teachings, reminding readers of the challenges faced in the twilight of power.

LionBoar
the inevitability of declineRead Story →

Quick Facts

Age Group
kids
children
story for class 2
story for class 3
story for class 4
Theme
Greed
Conflict
Loss
Characters
Traveler
Ass
Owner of the Ass

Subscribe to Daily Stories

Get a new moral story in your inbox every day.

Trending

Most Upvoted

Reader favorites

Most Discussed

Join the conversation

Spin for a Story

Share