Aesop’s fable

Thinking Out Loud ~ Work Hard and Never Give Up

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Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Aesop’s Fable, The Mouse and the Bull. Aesop’s Fables is available for free download here.

The Fable

“A Bull gave chase to a Mouse which had bitten him in the nose:

but the Mouse was too quick for him and slipped into a hole in a

wall. The Bull charged furiously into the wall again and again

until he was tired out, and sank down on the ground exhausted with

his efforts. When all was quiet, the Mouse darted out and bit him

again. Beside himself with rage he started to his feet, but by that

time the Mouse was back in his hole again, and he could do nothing

but bellow and fume in helpless anger. Presently he heard a shrill

little voice say from inside the wall, “You big fellows don’t

always have it your own way, you see: sometimes we little ones come

off best.”

Note: The lesson is clear. Never quit. Never give up. I didn’t graduate near the top of my high school class. I didn’t graduate from college with honors – I was happy to graduate, LOL. I learned to keep my head down and keep working. I discovered the harder I worked the more success I had. Success didn’t come easy, but it came. I discovered I could outwork those with more innate talent and it made all the difference. Like the mouse in the fable, we may not have been born with all the gifts that some have, but with wisdom and hard work, we’ll succeed. Never quit, never give up. Your best days are ahead.

Thinking Out Loud ~ There are Multiple Perspectives

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Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Aesop’s Fable, The Man and the Lion. Aesop’s Fables is available for free download here.

The Fable

“A Man and a Lion were companions on a journey, and in the course

of conversation they began to boast about their prowess, and each

claimed to be superior to the other in strength and courage. They

were still arguing with some heat when they came to a cross-road

where there was a statue of a Man strangling a Lion. “There!” said

the Man triumphantly, “look at that! Doesn’t that prove to you that

we are stronger than you?” “Not so fast, my friend,” said the Lion:

“that is only your view of the case. If we Lions could make

statues, you may be sure that in most of them you would see the Man

underneath.”

Note: My life would be much easier if everyone saw things the way I see them. It would also be boring if that were the case. In most cases there is my way, your way, and if we want to grow, a better way. Discovering the better way requires large doses of courage and humility mixed in equal proportions. Discovering a better way requires hard work and patience. A better way doesn’t appear by magic. It takes honest conversation and an openness to the insights that emerge from honest conversations. The man and the lion each saw the world from their perspective. They didn’t see the whole world, only the slice they wanted to see.

Think Out Loud – A Lesson in Humility

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Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Aesop’s Fable, The Monkey as King. Aesop’s Fables is available for free download here.

The Fable

“At a gathering of all the animals the Monkey danced and

delighted them so much that they made him their King. The Fox,

however, was very much disgusted at the promotion of the Monkey: so

having one day found a trap with a piece of meat in it, he took the

Monkey there and said to him, “Here is a dainty morsel I have

found, sire; I did not take it myself, because I thought it ought

to be reserved for you, our King. Will you be pleased to accept

it?” The Monkey made at once for the meat and got caught in the

trap. Then he bitterly reproached the Fox for leading him into

danger; but the Fox only laughed and said, “O Monkey, you call

yourself King of the Beasts and haven’t more sense than to be taken

in like that!”

Note: There’s a country song that has the words, “It’s hard to be humble when you’re perfect in every way.” Every time I hear the song I chuckle and think of myself until my next humbling experience happens, usually within the hour. Real humility is a sign of strength. It is like the eons of time that passed as the Colorado River wedged its way through the Grand Canyon flowing a mile below the North Rim. Humble people know who they are. They know their strengths and weaknesses. They are aware of their light and dark sides.

Thinking Out Loud ~ Are You Being Duped? Check Out Today’s Aesop’s Fable

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Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Aesop’s Fable, The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing. Aesop’s Fables is available for free download here.

The Fable

“A Wolf resolved to disguise himself in order that he might prey

upon a flock of sheep without fear of detection. So he clothed

himself in a sheepskin, and slipped among the sheep when they were

out at pasture. He completely deceived the shepherd, and when the

flock was penned for the night he was shut in with the rest. But

that very night as it happened, the shepherd, requiring a supply of

mutton for the table, laid hands on the Wolf in mistake for a

Sheep, and killed him with his knife on the spot.”

 

Note: Some folks consider themselves clever. They believe they’re smarter than everyone else; they believe they can manipulate everyone else. They do, until the people who are being taken advantage of decide enough is enough and confront the situation demanding honesty. It’s not always easy because the clever ones couch their motives as if they are working in our best interests when they are serving their self interests. In the end karma catches up to them. When we measure a person’s words through his/her actions we can see if they are working in our best interests or if they have another scheme afoot. We are not powerless. We don’t have to be duped.

Thinking Out Loud ~ Don’t Give Up – A Message in Aesop’s Fable

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Don’t Give Up – Don’t Ever Give Up

Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Aesop’s Fable, The Crow and the Pitcher. Aesop’s Fables is available for free download here.

The Fable

 

“A thirsty Crow found a Pitcher with some water in it, but so

little was there that, try as she might, she could not reach it

with her beak, and it seemed as though she would die of thirst

within sight of the remedy. At last she hit upon a clever plan. She

began dropping pebbles into the Pitcher, and with each pebble the

water rose a little higher until at last it reached the brim, and

the knowing bird was enabled to quench her thirst.”

 

Note: I enjoyed this fable. The crow didn’t give up. The crow discovered a workaround. When we’re confronted with challenges, there is a temptation to give up. Some inner voice speaks to us and tell us it is not worth the effort. Or, the inner voice tells us that it is impossible. When our inner voice gives us negative appraisals it is deceiving us. Our challenge may be daunting, but if we continue to endure and not give up, we have a chance. We may succeed or we may discover something more vital on the journey. Never quit, never give up. You’ve always a chance if you don’t quit.

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