The Salt Merchant and His Ass
Story Summary
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.
Click to reveal the moral of the story
The moral of the story is that deceitful tactics can backfire, leading to greater problems than the original situation.
Historical Context
This fable, attributed to Aesop, features themes of cleverness and the consequences of deceit, common elements in ancient Greek storytelling. Aesop's fables, known for their moral lessons, have been retold across cultures and eras, emphasizing the pitfalls of trickery and the wisdom that comes from experience. The story of the peddler and his ass reflects the enduring human tendency to seek shortcuts, ultimately demonstrating that cunning can lead to one's own downfall.
Our Editors Opinion
This fable illustrates the consequences of deceit and the dangers of seeking shortcuts to gain an advantage, a lesson that resonates in modern life where individuals may attempt to manipulate situations for personal benefit. For example, a student who cheats on an exam may initially achieve a high grade but ultimately faces severe academic penalties and undermines their own learning, demonstrating that dishonest tactics can lead to greater burdens in the long run.
You May Also Like
The Hen and the Swallow
In "The Hen and the Swallow," a hen nurtures viper eggs, oblivious to the danger they pose, which serves as a timeless moral story highlighting the folly of nurturing harmful beings. The swallow warns her of the impending threat, illustrating a simple lesson from stories about the consequences of ignorance. This fable joins the ranks of popular moral stories, emphasizing the importance of discernment in our choices.
The Herdsman and the Lost Bull
In this very short moral story, a herdsman vows to sacrifice a lamb to the forest deities if he discovers the thief of his lost Bull-calf. When he finds a Lion devouring the Calf, panic sets in, leading him to wish for a full-grown Bull instead, illustrating the theme of moral-based storytelling about the consequences of one's vows and the instinct for self-preservation. This inspirational short story serves as a quick read with a valuable lesson about facing fears and the weight of promises.
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.
Other names for this story
The Clever Ass, The Peddler's Lesson, Salt and Sponges, The Trickster's Burden, The Ass's Folly, The Stream of Deceit, A Merchant's Misfortune, The Weight of Greed
Did You Know?
This fable highlights the theme of cunning versus consequence, illustrating how the Ass's attempt to outsmart his master ultimately backfires, teaching a lesson about the dangers of deceit and the importance of honesty. It serves as a reminder that cleverness can sometimes lead to unintended repercussions.
Subscribe to Daily Stories
Get a new moral story in your inbox every day.