1. The Golden Egg
Once upon a time, there was a poor farmer who had a goose that laid golden eggs. Every day, he would collect the golden eggs and sell them for money. But the farmer was greedy and thought that if he could get all the eggs at once, he would become rich faster. So, he killed the goose, only to find no eggs inside. He had lost both the goose and the golden eggs.
Moral: Greed can lead to the loss of what you already have.
2. The Farmer and the Snake
A kind-hearted farmer found a snake lying frozen in the snow. Feeling sympathy, he picked it up and warmed it in his hands. As the snake revived, it bit him. The farmer, in pain, asked, “Why did you bite me after I helped you?” The snake replied, “I am a snake, and biting is in my nature.”
Moral: Be cautious when helping others, as not everyone appreciates kindness.
3. The Donkey and the Salt
A merchant loaded his donkey with sacks of salt to transport to the market. On the way, the donkey stumbled and fell into the river, which caused the salt to dissolve. The next day, the merchant loaded the donkey with sacks of sponges. Again, the donkey fell into the river, but this time the sponges absorbed the water, making the load heavier. The donkey realized that hard work has its rewards and decided to avoid the river in the future.
Moral: Hard work brings value, but avoiding shortcuts ensures success.
4. The Thirsty Crow
One hot summer day, a thirsty crow found a pitcher with some water at the bottom. The crow couldn’t reach the water, so it began dropping small pebbles into the pitcher. Slowly, the water level rose, and the crow was able to drink.
Moral: Patience and persistence will eventually bring success.
5. The Fox and the Grapes
A hungry fox spotted some grapes hanging from a vine. He jumped and tried to reach them, but they were just out of his grasp. After several failed attempts, the fox walked away muttering, “Those grapes are probably sour anyway.”
Moral: It’s easy to dismiss what you can’t have, but true success comes from persistence.
6. The Two Goats
Two goats were crossing a narrow bridge when they met in the middle. There was no room for both to pass at the same time, so they decided to fight. But one goat realized that they would both fall if they kept fighting, so he lay down to let the other goat pass. The other goat followed suit, and both safely crossed the bridge.
Moral: Cooperation and compromise often lead to the best solution.
7. The Peacock and the Crane
A peacock proudly flaunted its colorful feathers, boasting that no bird could be more beautiful. A humble crane, standing nearby, said, “But I can fly to the clouds, while you are stuck on the ground.” The peacock, realizing that beauty is not everything, admired the crane’s freedom.
Moral: True value is not always in appearance, but in abilities and character.
8. The Boy and the Starfish
A young boy was walking along a beach filled with starfish that had washed ashore. He began throwing them back into the ocean, one by one. An elderly man approached and said, “There are too many, you can’t save them all.” The boy picked up another starfish and tossed it into the sea, saying, “I made a difference to that one.”
Moral: Every small act of kindness makes a difference, no matter how small it may seem.
9. The Ant and the Dove
One day, a thirsty ant fell into a stream. A dove saw it struggling and dropped a leaf into the water, allowing the ant to climb to safety. Later, when the dove was trapped in a hunter’s net, the ant bit through the ropes, freeing the dove.
Moral: Kindness is always repaid, even in unexpected ways.
10. The Wise Old Man
A young man went to an old wise man seeking advice on how to be successful. The old man took him to a lake and asked him to hold his head under water. The young man struggled and gasped for air when the old man finally let him up. “When you want success as much as you wanted air, you will find it,” the old man said.
Moral: Desire and determination are key to achieving success.