Library / Aesop’s Fables

The Silkworm and Spider

A traditional fable

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The Silkworm and Spider

Having received an order for twenty yards of silk from Princess Lioness, the Silkworm sat down at her loom and worked diligently with great enthusiasm.

Soon, a Spider approached and asked to rent a nearby web-room. The Silkworm agreed, and the Spider began her task, working so quickly that it wasn't long before her web was completed.

"Just look at it," the Spider exclaimed. "See how grand and delicate it is! You must acknowledge that I'm a much better worker than you. Look at how swiftly I finish my labor."

"Yes," replied the Silkworm, "but please be quiet; you are distracting me. Your creations serve merely as base traps, easily destroyed and brushed away as worthless debris. In contrast, my work is cherished and preserved as the adornments of royalty."

"True art is thoughtful, brings joy, and endures."

The moral
True value lies in the quality and purpose of one's work, not in the speed of its completion.

Discussion questions

  1. How did the Silkworm’s approach to her work differ from the Spider’s?
  2. Why do you think the Silkworm believes her work is more valuable?
  3. Can you think of a time when you chose quality over speed? What was the outcome?

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Good night.

Tomorrow night: The Fox and the Crane