The Goat and the Ass
Story Summary
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.
Click to reveal the moral of the story
Envy can lead to harmful consequences, both for oneself and for others.
Historical Context
This story reflects themes common in ancient fables, particularly those attributed to Aesop, where animals personify human traits and convey moral lessons. The tale illustrates the dangers of envy and deceit, emphasizing that ill-conceived advice can lead to unforeseen consequences. Similar narratives have been retold across cultures, highlighting the universal nature of these moral dilemmas.
Our Editors Opinion
This fable illustrates the dangers of envy and the consequences of misguided advice in modern life, where individuals may be tempted to sabotage others out of jealousy. For instance, in a workplace scenario, an employee might encourage a colleague to feign incompetence to escape responsibilities, only to find that their deceit leads to serious repercussions and ultimately harms not just the colleague, but themselves as well.
You May Also Like
The Man and His Wife
In this simple short story with a moral, a man discovers that his wife is disliked by everyone in his household. To gauge her reception elsewhere, he sends her to visit her father's home, only to learn upon her return that even the herdsmen and shepherds treated her with aversion. This leads him to conclude that if she is despised by those who see her briefly, her reception among family, with whom she spent more time, must have been even worse, illustrating the value-based lesson that small signs can indicate larger truths.
The Horse and His Rider
In this heartwarming short story with a moral, a dedicated horse soldier initially treats his steed well during the war, but neglects and overworks the horse afterward. When war is declared again, the horse collapses under its heavy military gear, lamenting that the soldier has transformed it from a strong horse into a burdened ass, illustrating the consequences of neglect and mistreatment. This uplifting tale serves as a reminder that we must care for those who support us, as real-life stories with moral lessons often show.
The Scorpion and the Frog
In the captivating moral story "The Scorpion and the Frog," a scorpion persuades a frog to carry him across a stream by promising not to sting him, claiming it would lead to both their deaths. However, midway across, the scorpion stings the frog, leading to their mutual demise, as he explains, "It's my nature." This meaningful story with a moral serves as a reminder of the inherent traits that can lead to tragic consequences, making it one of the short stories to learn morals from.
Other names for this story
"Envious Goat's Mistake, The Ass's Burden, Goat's Foolish Advice, Ditch of Deceit, The Cost of Jealousy, Lessons from the Goat, The Ass's Misadventure, Goat's Revenge on Ass"
Did You Know?
This fable illustrates the dangers of envy and the consequences of giving in to misguided advice, as the Goat's jealousy ultimately leads to its own demise while the Ass suffers from the consequences of his poor choice. It serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of coveting what others have without understanding the full implications of that desire.
Subscribe to Daily Stories
Get a new moral story in your inbox every day.