Aesop's Fables

by Aesop

In the earliest human history whatever is authentic is universal: and whatever is universal is anonymous.

The nursery fairy tales may have come out of Asia with the Indo-European race, now fortunately extinct; they may have been invented by some fine French lady or gentleman like Perrault: they may possibly even be what they profess to be. But we shall always call the best selection of such tales “Grimm’s Tales”: simply because it is the best collection.

The truth is, of course, that Aesop’s Fables are not Aesop’s fables, any more than Grimm’s Fairy Tales were ever Grimm’s fairy tales. But the fable and the fairy tale are things utterly distinct.

There can be no good fable with human beings in it. There can be no good fairy tale without them.

The fairy tale, on the other hand, absolutely revolves on the pivot of human personality.

This is the immortal justification of the Fable: that we could not teach the plainest truths so simply without turning men into chessmen.

But by using animals in this austere and arbitrary style as they are used on the shields of heraldry or the hieroglyphics of the ancients, men have really succeeded in handing down those tremendous truths that are called truisms. If the chivalric lion be red and rampant, it is rigidly red and rampant; if the sacred ibis stands anywhere on one leg, it stands on one leg forever.

If you are wise you won’t be deceived by the innocent airs of those whom you have once found to be dangerous.

Notoriety is often mistaken for fame.

Look and see which way the wind blows before you commit yourself.

Persuasion is better than force.

Do not count your chickens before they are hatched.

Boasters brag most when they cannot be detected.

A Fir Tree was boasting to a Bramble, and said, somewhat contemptuously, “You poor creature, you are of no use whatever. Now, look at me: I am useful for all sorts of things, particularly when men build houses; they can’t do without me then.” But the Bramble replied, “Ah, that’s all very well: but you wait till they come with axes and saws to cut you down, and then you’ll wish you were a Bramble and not a Fir.”

Better poverty without a care than wealth with its many obligations.

We may often be of more consequence in our own eyes than in the eyes of our neighbours.

Misfortune tests the sincerity of friendship.

Do not waste your pity on a scamp.

Evil wishes, like fowls, come home to roost.

You cannot believe a liar even when he tells the truth.

Look before your leap.

Show gratitude where gratitude is due.

Give assistance, not advice, in a crisis.

They complain most who suffer least.

Do not attempt too much at once.

“I despised my legs, which might have saved my life: but I gloried in my horns, and they have proved my ruin.”

What is worth most is often valued least.

Heaven helps those who help themselves.

“My will is as strong as ever, master, but my body is old and feeble. You ought to honour me for what I have been instead of abusing me for what I am.”

Revenge is a two-edged sword.

If you choose bad companions no one will believe that you are anything but bad yourself.

If you attempt what is beyond your power, your trouble will be wasted and you court not only misfortune but ridicule.

Injuries are never forgotten in the presence of those who caused them.

Precautions are useless after the event.

A man is known by the company he keeps.

Advantages that are dearly bought are doubtful blessings.

Servants don’t know a good master till they have served a worse.

It is no use being your own master unless you can stand up for yourself.

Think twice before you act.

Rude shocks await those who take to themselves the credit that is due to others.

It’s no use trying to hide what can’t be hidden.

What’s bred in the bone is sure to come out in the flesh.

When you hit back make sure you have got the right man.

There is no virtue in giving to others what is useless to oneself.

All men are more concerned to recover what they lose than to acquire what they lack.

Do not promise more than you can perform.

Happy is he who learns from the misfortunes of others.

Better servitude with safety than freedom with danger.

Those who pretend to be something they are not only make themselves ridiculous.