Favourite Aesop Fable.

The Atheist · 08-25-2008, 02:08 AM

I'll see if we can get any players - list your favourite Aesop fable & why.

For me, the cowardly bat, who changes sides to the one who's winning is my favourite.

The attitude was exemplified by several countries in WWII, none of which came out of it well and it never does work, a turncoat will always be remembered as a turncoat.

Stay true to yourself and your friends.

Seems good advice to me!

Anyone else?

caesar · 08-25-2008, 04:58 AM

I'm a great admirer of Aesop's Fables too. They are so simple yet effective in teaching children about worldly wisdom. It has been a long time since I read them. But two fables come to my mind, presently, because I often relate the message in these two fables with my day to day experience and observation. First is, "The fox and the grapes" and the other is about an old man and his son who, while returning home with a donkey which they have recently bought, are ridiculed by the passers-by. Heeding to the ridicule they try to do what the others say is right and end up losing the donkey by dropping it in the river as they try to carry it on their shoulders while passing over a bridge.

I'm also reminded of "The Tortoise and the Hare". When I was about 8 years old, my math teacher in class-2 had nick-named me as "the lazy tortoise", because I was always slow in doing my work, but I was definitely not lazy. And, like the tortoise, I was very persevering and I outdid everyone in the exam. Even in athletics, at the age of 12, I went on to become the best athlete in my school in long distance running beating all my seniors in both the 800 mts and the 5 kms event. Today, as a lawyer, I’m still slow in doing my job, because of my obsessive compulsiveness to be meticulously accurate and perfect.

The Atheist · 08-25-2008, 05:53 AM

Brilliant!

Great story.

Phangirl7 · 01-29-2009, 02:47 PM

My favorite would have to be "The Tortise and the Hare", because I find that I do a better job if I take my time at things instead of rushing through them.
P.G.7.

drexy · 02-15-2009, 12:32 PM

You mean those favorite stories of my childhood. The people getting ridiculed from the passers-by with their donkey and the tortoise and the hare are both from Aesop's fable? I must read it then

The Atheist · 03-11-2009, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drexy

You mean those favorite stories of my childhood. The people getting ridiculed from the passers-by with their donkey and the tortoise and the hare are both from Aesop's fable? I must read it then

I'm sure you'll recognise others as well.

Delta40 · 03-11-2009, 01:11 AM

Yeah, I've taken nine years to get my degree. I really am a tortoise. What a long haul. I've watched so many young folk pass me by on their way to exciting careers (or otherwise...) while I struggled with sharing out the burdens of responsibilities on my shoulders. The finish line is now in sight. Boy is my shell heavy. I am gonna PARTAY when I crawl across....

a_little_wisp · 03-11-2009, 02:26 AM

The Crow and the Pitcher, by far. I think, partly because it was the fable that stuck the most when I was little (That, and the Fox and the Grapes). I thought the Crow was so clever, and I remember that anticipation:

"He took a pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher.
He took another pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher."

And I was thinking, "GO CROW. GO." ... I was a very easily amused and a very emotional child.

The Crow and the Pitcher has fit my life since I came into college and didn't do as well as I wanted starting off, so the building back up is that much harder.

You know, it was foolish not to find the water in the jug when it was full, and now, dying of thirst, I had to regain what I lost, pebble by pebble.

I think I'll get there and be able to drink from it, but the work will be harder, but then...

Maybe the water will taste that much sweeter.

The Atheist · 04-19-2009, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta40

The finish line is now in sight. Boy is my shell heavy. I am gonna PARTAY when I crawl across....

Quote:

Originally Posted by a_little_wisp

I think I'll get there and be able to drink from it, but the work will be harder, but then...

Maybe the water will taste that much sweeter.

Brilliant, the pair of you!

Better get those party unvites out!

SuzEtruscan · 07-10-2009, 04:44 PM

Hey A!
I really like "The Dog and The Bone"
When I first learned psych "101" was to be the study of Primates I was bummed as I had hoped to hop right into the brain of mine and that of my fellow man....
No advanced classes could ever teach a human more about their racial natures as the study of our furry sibs-
Primates to rats....
Just some dogs never catch onto the condition.
AesopAesopAesopAesop
Yeah lets bring him back
S:-) have fun Suzi

The Atheist · 07-10-2009, 08:53 PM

Excellent!

Stargazer86 · 07-11-2009, 11:16 AM

I've always liked The Ant and the Grasshopper, The Fisherman and the Little Fish, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, and the Frog and the Scorpion.
All very wise lessons

TheFifthElement · 07-11-2009, 11:25 AM

For me it will always be the Sun and the North Wind.

Persuasion is more effective than force.

Brilliant.

Sapphire · 07-11-2009, 12:28 PM

It is difficult to choose a favourite, but one I really like is this:

Jugs In The Water

Two jugs, one of clay and one of shiny brass, floated in the raging river, which was swollen from the rain.

As the jugs swirled between the rocks jutting up out of the water, the brass jug said, "Stay close to me, friend. I'll help you make your way! I'm hard and made of brass. I'm much stronger than clay."

"Dear friend," said the clay jug, "Until we are in calm waters and we find a peaceful place, be thoughtful. Keep your distance! What I really need is space! You can protect YOURSELF from breaking on the rocks. That is true. But, how can you protect ME from bumping into YOU?"

I guess this is not the original version. I think that one is closer to the one in this book: fable IV - The two Vessels. The moral is the same though: If you're weaker than an other person, it is not always a smart idea to let the other "protect" you and to stay near to them... Sometimes it is better to find your own way

The Atheist · 07-11-2009, 07:58 PM

Woohoo! Action in the Aesop thread!

There aren't many sitations the old bloke didn't figure out:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stargazer86

...The Boy Who Cried Wolf....

They are indeed all very good lessons, but I think that one's particularly topical: SARS, H1N1, Y2K - a lot of wolf-crying goes on nowadays.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheFifthElement

...Persuasion is more effective than force.

Brilliant.

Yep!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sapphire

It is difficult to choose a favourite, but one I really like is this:

Jugs In The Water

Sometimes it is better to find your own way

[/color]

I'd even go as far as "most of the time".

Cheers!

08-25-2008, 02:08 AM	#1
The Atheist Orwellian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: The George Orwell sub-forum Posts: 2,102	Favourite Aesop Fable. I'll see if we can get any players - list your favourite Aesop fable & why. For me, the cowardly bat, who changes sides to the one who's winning is my favourite. The attitude was exemplified by several countries in WWII, none of which came out of it well and it never does work, a turncoat will always be remembered as a turncoat. Stay true to yourself and your friends. Seems good advice to me! Anyone else?

08-25-2008, 04:58 AM	#2
caesar Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 411	I'm a great admirer of Aesop's Fables too. They are so simple yet effective in teaching children about worldly wisdom. It has been a long time since I read them. But two fables come to my mind, presently, because I often relate the message in these two fables with my day to day experience and observation. First is, "The fox and the grapes" and the other is about an old man and his son who, while returning home with a donkey which they have recently bought, are ridiculed by the passers-by. Heeding to the ridicule they try to do what the others say is right and end up losing the donkey by dropping it in the river as they try to carry it on their shoulders while passing over a bridge. I'm also reminded of "The Tortoise and the Hare". When I was about 8 years old, my math teacher in class-2 had nick-named me as "the lazy tortoise", because I was always slow in doing my work, but I was definitely not lazy. And, like the tortoise, I was very persevering and I outdid everyone in the exam. Even in athletics, at the age of 12, I went on to become the best athlete in my school in long distance running beating all my seniors in both the 800 mts and the 5 kms event. Today, as a lawyer, I’m still slow in doing my job, because of my obsessive compulsiveness to be meticulously accurate and perfect. __________________ "Don't need a gun to blow your mind"

01-29-2009, 02:47 PM	#4
Phangirl7 POTO Phan Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Under the Opera House, composing. Posts: 152	My favorite would have to be "The Tortise and the Hare", because I find that I do a better job if I take my time at things instead of rushing through them. P.G.7. __________________ Totally Obsessed Phantom Phan! I am also a fan of: Lion King, High School Musical, Harry Potter, Disney in general, Days of Our Lives, Musicals in general, Dr. Seuss and Grinch!

03-11-2009, 02:26 AM	#8
a_little_wisp Sipping the Tea Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Myrtle Beach, SC Posts: 861 Blog Entries: 31	The Crow and the Pitcher, by far. I think, partly because it was the fable that stuck the most when I was little (That, and the Fox and the Grapes). I thought the Crow was so clever, and I remember that anticipation: "He took a pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher. He took another pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher." And I was thinking, "GO CROW. GO." ... I was a very easily amused and a very emotional child. The Crow and the Pitcher has fit my life since I came into college and didn't do as well as I wanted starting off, so the building back up is that much harder. You know, it was foolish not to find the water in the jug when it was full, and now, dying of thirst, I had to regain what I lost, pebble by pebble. I think I'll get there and be able to drink from it, but the work will be harder, but then... Maybe the water will taste that much sweeter. __________________ Then she would run until morning to ease the ache; swifter than rain, swift as loss, racing to catch up with the time when she had known nothing at all but the sweetness of being herself. -- Peter S. Beagle, The Last Unicorn

07-11-2009, 11:25 AM	#13
TheFifthElement Warrior Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Wish I knew Posts: 2,109 Blog Entries: 115	For me it will always be the Sun and the North Wind. Persuasion is more effective than force. Brilliant. __________________ 'I am the equal of the stillness, the sand, the starry sky.' Cees Nooteboom - Lost Paradise

08-25-2008, 05:53 AM	#3
The Atheist Orwellian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: The George Orwell sub-forum Posts: 2,102	Brilliant! Great story.

02-15-2009, 12:32 PM	#5
drexy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 6	You mean those favorite stories of my childhood. The people getting ridiculed from the passers-by with their donkey and the tortoise and the hare are both from Aesop's fable? I must read it then

03-11-2009, 01:11 AM	#7
Delta40 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 684 Blog Entries: 20	Yeah, I've taken nine years to get my degree. I really am a tortoise. What a long haul. I've watched so many young folk pass me by on their way to exciting careers (or otherwise...) while I struggled with sharing out the burdens of responsibilities on my shoulders. The finish line is now in sight. Boy is my shell heavy. I am gonna PARTAY when I crawl across....

07-10-2009, 04:44 PM	#10
SuzEtruscan Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ca Posts: 2	Hey A! I really like "The Dog and The Bone" When I first learned psych "101" was to be the study of Primates I was bummed as I had hoped to hop right into the brain of mine and that of my fellow man.... No advanced classes could ever teach a human more about their racial natures as the study of our furry sibs- Primates to rats.... Just some dogs never catch onto the condition. AesopAesopAesopAesop Yeah lets bring him back S:-) have fun Suzi

07-10-2009, 08:53 PM	#11
The Atheist Orwellian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: The George Orwell sub-forum Posts: 2,102	Excellent!

07-11-2009, 11:16 AM	#12
Stargazer86 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,283	I've always liked The Ant and the Grasshopper, The Fisherman and the Little Fish, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, and the Frog and the Scorpion. All very wise lessons

07-11-2009, 12:28 PM	#14
Sapphire Dreaming away Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: below the sea surface Posts: 810	It is difficult to choose a favourite, but one I really like is this: Jugs In The Water Two jugs, one of clay and one of shiny brass, floated in the raging river, which was swollen from the rain. As the jugs swirled between the rocks jutting up out of the water, the brass jug said, "Stay close to me, friend. I'll help you make your way! I'm hard and made of brass. I'm much stronger than clay." "Dear friend," said the clay jug, "Until we are in calm waters and we find a peaceful place, be thoughtful. Keep your distance! What I really need is space! You can protect YOURSELF from breaking on the rocks. That is true. But, how can you protect ME from bumping into YOU?" I guess this is not the original version. I think that one is closer to the one in this book: fable IV - The two Vessels. The moral is the same though: If you're weaker than an other person, it is not always a smart idea to let the other "protect" you and to stay near to them... Sometimes it is better to find your own way __________________ It's getting dark too soon, a threatening silence surrounding me - a wind comes up from the islands. Distance fades to stormy grey, washed out from the deep of the ocean. Here I will stand to face your wrath. This time I'm not scared of you Wolfsheim - Once in a Lifetime

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