The Fighting Cocks and the Eagle

Story Summary
In this captivating moral story, two game cocks battle for dominance in a farmyard, with one ultimately emerging victorious. However, the conqueror's pride leads to its capture by an eagle, allowing the defeated cock to take over without challenge. This wisdom-packed tale illustrates that pride often precedes one's downfall, serving as a concise moral lesson in humility.
Click to reveal the moral of the story
Pride and arrogance can lead to one's downfall, while humility can ultimately lead to unexpected success.
Historical Context
This fable, attributed to Aesop, reflects themes of pride and the consequences of hubris, common in ancient Greek storytelling. Aesop's Fables, dating back to the 6th century BCE, often feature anthropomorphic animals to impart moral lessons, and this particular tale underscores the idea that overconfidence can lead to one's downfall, a lesson resonating through various cultural retellings across history.
Our Editors Opinion
In modern life, this story serves as a reminder that excessive pride and boastfulness can lead to one's downfall, while humility can ultimately lead to success. For instance, in a competitive workplace, an employee who constantly brags about their achievements may attract negative attention and risk losing a promotion, while a more modest colleague who quietly excels in their work might be recognized and rewarded instead.
You May Also Like

The Thirsty Pigeon
In "The Thirsty Pigeon," a moral story that serves as a cautionary tale for children, a pigeon, desperate for water, mistakenly believes a painted goblet on a signboard is real and crashes into it, injuring herself. Captured by a bystander, her plight illustrates the importance of discretion over impulsive actions, making it a valuable lesson found in motivational stories with moral for class 7.

The Astronomer
In this inspirational short story with a moral, an astronomer becomes so absorbed in stargazing that he neglects his immediate surroundings and falls into a deep well. As he cries for help, a neighbor reminds him of the irony in his quest for knowledge about the heavens while ignoring the dangers on earth. This tale serves as a valuable lesson for young readers about the importance of being aware of one’s present circumstances amidst the pursuit of lofty ideals.

The Opossum of the Future
In "The Opossum of the Future," a clever Opossum finds himself threatened by a Snake while hanging from a tree branch. To escape, he flatters the Snake by praising its evolutionary superiority, but the Snake, rooted in traditional beliefs, dismisses the Opossum's scientific reasoning. This wisdom-packed moral story highlights the clash between modern understanding and age-old traditions, making it a valuable addition to short story collections with moral lessons for children.
Other names for this story
Pride Before Fall, The Conqueror's Downfall, The Rooster's Lesson, The Eagle's Revenge, The Rise of the Underdog, Fight for Dominance, From Victory to Defeat, The Fall of the Proud Cock
Did You Know?
This story illustrates the theme that hubris can lead to downfall, as the victorious cock's arrogance and celebration of his win make him an easy target for the eagle, ultimately allowing the previously defeated cock to reclaim power.
Subscribe to Daily Stories
Get a new moral story in your inbox every day.