Aesopambition

The Shepherd and the Sea

In this captivating moral story, a shepherd, lured by the calm sea, sells his flock to invest in a cargo of dates for a voyage. However, a sudden tempest forces him to discard his merchandise for survival, leaving him empty-handed. Reflecting on the sea's tranquil appearance, he wryly notes that it remains in need of dates, serving as a simple short story with a moral for young readers about the perils of chasing fleeting desires.

2 min read

6 characters

The Shepherd and the Sea - Aesop's Fable illustration about ambition, risk, the unpredictability of nature

2 min6

0:000:00

Reveal Moral

"The moral of the story is that appearances can be deceiving, and one should not be swayed by calmness without considering the potential dangers beneath the surface."

In the fable "The Frog and the Ox," a young Frog excitedly describes a giant creature it saw, which the old Frog dismisses as just a farmer's Ox. Determined to outsize the Ox, the old Frog inflates himself repeatedly, ultimately bursting in a tragic display of self-conceit. This cautionary tale serves as a popular moral story, illustrating the dangers of trying to be something one is not, making it a quick read that offers life-changing lessons.

little Frogbig Frog

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AmbitionAesop's Fables

The Milk Woman and Her Pail

A farmer's daughter daydreams about the wealth she will gain from selling her milk and the lavish life that awaits her, filled with new clothes and suitors at Christmas parties. However, her fantasies come crashing down when she accidentally drops her milk pail, illustrating a valuable lesson in the storytelling with morals tradition: that one should not count their chickens before they hatch. This very short moral story serves as a reminder to stay grounded and not get lost in dreams of fortune.

Farmer's daughtermilk pail

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betrayalAesop's Fables

The Lion and the Thorn

In this engaging moral tale, a lion, grateful for a shepherd's help in removing a thorn from his foot, spares him after a meal. However, when the shepherd is falsely accused and sentenced to be fed to the lions, one lion recognizes him and claims him as his own, leading to the shepherd's demise at the hands of the very creature he once aided. This timeless moral story serves as a cautionary reminder of how past kindness can be repaid in unexpected ways.

LionShepherd

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Quick Facts

Age Group: adult
kids
children
story for class 2
story for class 3
story for class 4
story for class 5
story for class 6
story for class 7
story for class 8
Theme: ambition
risk
the unpredictability of nature
Characters: Shepherd
Sheep
Sea
Ship
Tempest
Merchant

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The Shepherd and the Sea

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