The Ass and His Shadow
Story Summary
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.
Click to reveal the moral of the story
In our disputes over minor matters, we may overlook and lose what truly matters.
Historical Context
This fable, attributed to Aesop, reflects themes of human folly and the often trivial nature of disputes, showcasing the idea that focusing on minor grievances can lead to the loss of more significant benefits. Aesop's fables, originating in ancient Greece, have been retold across cultures, emphasizing moral lessons through simple narratives involving animals and humans. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of squabbling over inconsequential matters, a theme that resonates through various retellings in literature and folklore.
Our Editors Opinion
This fable serves as a reminder in modern life that focusing too much on trivial disputes can lead us to lose sight of what truly matters. For example, two colleagues might get embroiled in a heated argument over credit for a project, wasting time and energy—only to miss the deadline and jeopardize their team's success.
You May Also Like
The Lark Burying Her Father
In the well-known moral story "The Lark Burying Her Father," the lark faces the challenge of finding a burial place for her father after his death, as there is no earth available. After five days of searching, she decides to honor him by burying him in her own head, leading to the creation of her crest, which symbolizes her father's grave. This inspirational short story with moral highlights the importance of reverence to one's parents, making it a poignant addition to any collection of moral stories for students.
The Man and the Serpent
In the short story "The Man and the Serpent," a farmer's son is bitten and killed by a serpent after accidentally stepping on its tail. In retaliation, the farmer injures the serpent, leading to a cycle of revenge that results in the loss of the farmer's cattle. When the farmer tries to reconcile, the serpent teaches a life-lesson moral: while injuries may be forgiven, they can never be forgotten, highlighting the enduring consequences of revenge in this very short moral story.
The Goat and the Ass
In "The Goat and the Ass," a story often shared as a childhood tale with moral lessons, a Goat envies the Ass for its better food and persuades it to pretend to be ill to escape hard labor. The Ass follows this misguided advice, injuring itself in a ditch, which ultimately leads to the Goat being killed to treat the Ass's wounds. This culturally significant moral story illustrates the dangers of envy and the consequences of poor decisions, making it a valuable lesson for kids and students alike.
Other names for this story
"Dispute Over Shade, The Shadow Dispute, The Ass and His Shade, Quarreling for Shade, The Lost Shadow, Shade of the Ass, The Shadow Dilemma, The Tale of the Disputed Shadow"
Did You Know?
This story illustrates the folly of focusing on trivial disputes at the expense of what truly matters, highlighting how human conflicts can lead to losing valuable opportunities or resources, much like the traveler and the owner losing the ass itself while arguing over its shadow.
Subscribe to Daily Stories
Get a new moral story in your inbox every day.