The Mountains in Labour
Story Summary
In this moral story, the Countrymen observe the Mountains seemingly in distress, with smoke, earthquakes, and crashing trees, leading them to anticipate a catastrophic event. However, their fears are unfounded when the source of the commotion turns out to be a tiny mouse emerging from a gap in the Mountains, illustrating the lesson that sometimes great expectations yield little results. This tale serves as an example of the short stories with moral that resonate with both children and adults, reminding readers of the value of perspective in the face of alarm.
Click to reveal the moral of the story
The moral of the story is that sometimes great anticipation or fear can lead to insignificant results.
Historical Context
This story reflects themes found in fables and folklore, particularly the idea that great expectations may lead to insignificant results, a sentiment echoed in Aesop's fables and various cultures' storytelling traditions. The phrase "Much outcry, little outcome" serves as a moral lesson, highlighting human tendencies to overreact to perceived threats, a concept that has been explored in literature across different times and cultures. This narrative likely draws from oral traditions that emphasize simplicity and humor in conveying wisdom.
Our Editors Opinion
This story serves as a reminder that not all dramatic situations lead to significant results; sometimes, the anticipation of an event can overshadow its actual impact. In modern life, this is reflected in scenarios such as corporate meetings where employees fear major changes due to ominous discussions, only to find the outcome is a minor policy tweak rather than the sweeping changes they expected.
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Other names for this story
Mountain's Silent Birth, Earthquake's Tiny Surprise, Labor of the Mountains, The Great Mountain Wait, When Mountains Tremble, Tiny Mouse, Big Expectations, Nature's Whimsical Labor
Did You Know?
This fable illustrates the theme of exaggerated expectations versus reality, emphasizing how people's fears and anticipation can often lead to overblown reactions, only to be met with an anticlimactic outcome. The moral encapsulates the idea that sometimes, despite great commotion, the results may be surprisingly insignificant.
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