Summary: A boastful hare challenges a slow tortoise to a race. The hare, confident in his speed, takes a nap during the race, allowing the tortoise to slowly but surely finish first.
Moral: Slow and steady wins the race. The story teaches that persistence and hard work are more important than speed and bravado. It's a reminder to focus on progress and not get discouraged by others who seem to be moving faster.
Summary: A shepherd boy repeatedly tricks villagers into believing a wolf is attacking his sheep. After too many false alarms, the villagers ignore his genuine plea for help when a wolf actually appears.
Moral: Honesty is the best policy. The story highlights the importance of truthfulness and the consequences of dishonesty. It emphasizes how lying can erode trust and make genuine pleas for help fall on deaf ears.
Summary: A little red hen works diligently to plant, harvest, and bake bread. She asks other barnyard animals for help, but only the rooster joins her in the final stages. The animals want to eat the bread but have not contributed to the effort.
Moral: Those who work should reap the rewards. The story reinforces the concept of fairness and teaches the value of contributing to a shared effort. It demonstrates that those who don't work don't deserve to benefit from the fruits of others' labor.
Summary: An ant diligently stores food for winter while a grasshopper spends his summer singing and playing. When winter comes, the grasshopper is starving and begs the ant for food. The ant refuses, reminding the grasshopper that he should have prepared for the winter.
Moral: Preparation and hard work are key to success. The story highlights the importance of being proactive and planning for the future. It demonstrates that living for the moment can lead to hardship when unexpected challenges arise.
Summary: A greedy man cuts open his goose after realizing it lays golden eggs. He believes he can get all the golden eggs at once, but finds the goose empty.
Moral: Greed can lead to ruin. The story shows that being content with what you have and valuing the process over immediate gratification is important. It also teaches that being patient and persistent can lead to greater rewards than quick gains.