The Man and His Two Sweethearts
Story Summary
In this entertaining moral story, a middle-aged man courts two women—a younger one seeking youthfulness and an older one embarrassed by their age difference. Their attempts to modify his appearance lead to a comical outcome, as both women pull out all of his hair, leaving him completely bald. The tale serves as a simple moral story illustrating that trying to please everyone can ultimately result in losing everything.
Click to reveal the moral of the story
Trying to please everyone can lead to losing what makes you unique.
Historical Context
This tale reflects themes from various fables and folklore traditions, notably echoing Aesop's fable "The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey," which illustrates the futility of trying to please everyone. It also resonates with moral stories found in medieval literature that highlight human folly and the consequences of indecision, often emphasizing the importance of self-acceptance and the dangers of seeking external validation. The narrative serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of trying to satisfy competing desires, a sentiment that has been reiterated in countless cultures throughout history.
Our Editors Opinion
In modern life, the story highlights the futility of trying to win the approval of everyone, which often leads to losing one's authentic self. For instance, a professional who constantly alters their work style to satisfy conflicting demands from colleagues and superiors may ultimately find themselves burned out and unfulfilled, having compromised their individuality in the process.
You May Also Like
The Holy Deacon
In "The Holy Deacon," a short tale with a moral, an itinerant preacher enlists a Holy Deacon to collect donations from a reluctant congregation, promising him a quarter of the proceeds. However, after the collection, the Deacon reveals that the hardened hearts of the congregation yielded nothing for him, illustrating a life lesson about the challenge of generosity. This easy small story serves as a poignant reminder for young readers about the complexities of faith and giving in short story collections with moral themes.
The Stag in the Ox-Stall
In this short story with moral, a Stag, chased by hounds, hides among oxen in a shed, believing he has found safety. Despite warnings from the Ox about the master’s keen observation, the Stag’s overconfidence leads to his capture when the master discovers him. This animal story with moral teaches the lesson that trusting in false security can lead to one's downfall, emphasizing the importance of being aware of real dangers for personal growth.
The Taken Hand
In the humorous short story "The Taken Hand," a successful businessman seeks to shake hands with a thief, who arrogantly refuses. Following a philosopher's advice, the businessman cleverly leaves his hand in a neighbor's pocket, leading the greedy thief to take it, illustrating a clever moral about strategy and deception. This tale is a delightful addition to the collection of popular moral stories and folklore, showcasing the wit often found in short moral stories with pictures.
Related Collections
Other names for this story
The Gray Dilemma, Courting Chaos, Love's Hairy Predicament, Two Hearts, One Head, The Balancing Act, Love's Duality, The Hairless Lover
Did You Know?
This story illustrates the futility of trying to meet the expectations of contrasting desires, highlighting the theme that efforts to please everyone can ultimately lead to self-defeat and loss of identity.
Subscribe to Daily Stories
Get a new moral story in your inbox every day.
Explore More Stories
Story Details
- Age Group
- adultkidschildrenstory for class 4story for class 5story for class 6story for class 7story for class 8
- Theme
- DeceptionThe folly of trying to please everyoneThe consequences of vanity
- Characters
- Middle-aged manyoung womanelder woman
- Setting
- the elder woman's homethe younger woman's homea public space