Aesop's Fables

Alphabetical Index

Androcles and the Lion The Ant and the Grasshopper The Ass and the Lapdog The Ass in the Lion's Skin Avaricious and Envious The Bald Man and the Fly The Bat, the Birds, and the Beasts Belling the Cat The Belly and the Members The Buffoon and the Countryman The Bundle of Sticks The Cat-Maiden The Crow and the Pitcher The Dog and the Shadow The Dog and the Wolf The Dog in the Manger The Eagle and the Arrow The Fisher The Fisher and the Little Fish The Four Oxen and the Lion The Fox and the Cat The Fox and the Crow The Fox and the Goat The Fox and the Grapes The Fox and the Lion The Fox and the Mask The Fox and the Mosquitoes The Fox and the Stork The Fox without a Tail The Fox, the Rooster, and the Dog The Frog and the Ox The Frogs Desiring a King The Goose with the Golden Eggs The Hare and the Tortoise The Hare with Many Friends The Hares and the Frogs The Hart and the Hunter The Hart in the Ox-Stall Hercules and the Wagoneer The Horse and the Mule The Horse, Hunter, and Stag

The Jay and the Peacock The Laborer and the Nightingale The Lion and the Mouse The Lion and the Statue The Lion in Love The Lion's Share The Lion, the Fox, and the Beasts The Man and His Two Wives The Man and the Satyr The Man and the Serpent The Man and the Wood The Man and the Wooden God The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey The Milkmaid and Her Pail The Miser and His Gold The Mountains in Labor The Mule's Brains The Nurse and the Wolf The Old Man and Death The Old Woman and the Wine-Jar The One-Eyed Doe The Peacock and Hera The Serpent and the File The Shepherd's Boy The Sick Lion The Swallow and the Other Birds The Tortoise and the Birds The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse The Tree and the Reed The Trumpeter Taken Prisoner The Two Crabs The Two Fellows and the Bear The Two Pots The Wind and the Sun The Wolf and the Crane The Wolf and the Kid The Wolf and the Lamb The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing The Woodman and the Serpent The Young Thief and His Mother

Index of the "Morals of the Stories"

A liar will not be believed, even when he speaks the truth. A little thing in hand is worth more than a great thing in prospect. All must work together. Any excuse will serve a tyrant. Appearances are deceptive. Better simple pleasures in peace than luxury in fear. Better humble security than gilded danger. Better no rule than cruel rule. Better an enemy known, than one unreckoned with. Better one safe way than a hundred on which you cannot reckon. Better starve free than be a fat slave. Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow. Beware what you give to future enemies. Clumsy jesting is no joke. Cunning often outwits itself. Destroy the seed of evil, or it will grow up to be your ruin. Do not count your chickens before they are hatched. Do not trust flatterers. Do not trust interested advice. Enemies' promises were made to be broken. Example is the best precept. Familiarity breeds contempt. Fate helps them that help themselves. Fine clothes may disguise, but silly words will disclose a fool. Gratitude and greed go not together. Gratitude is the sign of noble souls. Greed often overreaches itself. He that is neither one thing nor the other has no friends. If you allow people to use you for your own purposes, they will use you for theirs. Injuries may be forgiven, but not forgotten. It is best to prepare for the days of necessity. It is easier to get into the enemy's toils than out again. It is easy to be brave from a safe distance. It is simple things misunderstood that cause the greatest problems. It is easy to despise what you cannot get. If it easy to overlook wealth when we do not recognize its form. It is easy to propose impossible remedies. It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds. It is useless attacking the insensible. Keep what you have. Kindness effects more than severity. Little by little does the trick. Little friends may prove great friends. Love can tame the wildest. People often applaud an imitation and hiss the real thing. Much outcry, little outcome. Never believe a captive's promise. Never soar aloft on an enemy's wings. Never trust a friend who deserts you in a pinch. Never trust the advice of a person in difficulties. No gratitude from the wicked. Nothing escapes the Master's eye. Obscurity often brings safety. One bad turn deserves another. One cannot be first in everything. Only cowards insult dying majesty. Outside show is a poor substitute for inner worth. People often begrudge others what they cannot enjoy themselves. Please all, and you will please none. Slow and steady wins the race. Self-conceit may lead to self-destruction. She that has many friends, has no friends. Sorrow not over what is lost forever. Teach a child well. The strong and the weak cannot keep company. There is always someone worse off than yourself. True Nature will reveal itself when put to the test. Union gives strength. United we stand, divided we fall. Vices are their own punishment. We can easily represent things as we wish them to be. We often despise what is most useful to us. We often give our enemies the means for our own destruction. We would often be sorry if our wishes were gratified. Wealth unused might as well not exist. What memories cling around the instruments of our pleasure. When you are in a person's power you must do as they bid. Wit has always an answer ready. Words may do as much as deeds. Yield to all and you will soon have nothing to yield. You cannot escape your fate. You may share the labors of the great, but you will not share the rewards. You will only injure yourself if you take notice of despicable enemies.