Short Stories - Run !!!

One day a Cheetah, fastest running animal in the world, was looking for prey for its lunch. It saw a rabbit. The Cheetah decided to catch the rabbit and started to chase it. On seeing the Cheetah coming closer, the Rabbit too started running. The Cheetah could not able to catch the rabbit and it increased its speed running. The rabbit too increased its speed. Still the Cheetah could not able to catch the rabbit. Hence the Cheetah increased its speed further more. The rabbit too increased its speed further more. Then the Rabbit went and got hidden inside a small hole in a rock, in which Cheetah could not enter. The Cheetah decided to give up and was about to return. But one question was itching in the Cheetah’s mind. The Cheetah decided to ask that question to the Rabbit itself. 

The Cheetah asked the Rabbit “O Rabbit, I am thinking that I am the fastest running animal in the world. But how could you manage to run faster than me?”. 

The Rabbit asked the Cheetah “Cheetah, for what were you running?”. 

The Cheetah replied “I was running for my lunch”.

Then the Rabbit replied “I was running for my life”.

Aesop stories - Timidity

Rabbits are among the most timid of animals.

The rabbits of a colony once had a meeting to discuss this trait of theirs.

They came to the conclusion that as their fearness would never leave them, they were doomed to a miserable existence and it would be better to drown themselves and end their misery once and for all.

Accordingly, they began to move towards a large lake.

When the frogs in the lake saw the large number of rabbits approaching, they were filled with fear and made for the deepest part of the lake.

Seeing this, the leader of the rabbits stopped and said to his fellow-creatures: "It is true we are timid, but here are animals more timid than ourselves. There is hope for us yet. Let us go back to our homes."

And that is what they did.

Moral: Just as we are afraid of others, others are afraid of us.

Aesop stories - The Unseen Enemy

A gnat, annoyed with a lion, for disturbing its sleep with its roaring, stung the beast on its snout.

The lion tried to crush it with its paws but without success.

The insect dodged the great cat’s claws and stung it again on its face.

Elated by its victory over the king of beasts, the gnat turned to gloat.

Unfortunately, there was a web in its path. It got caught in the web, and was devoured by the spider.

An insignificant foe is sometimes more dangerous than a mighty adversary because we’re not on guard against it.

Aesop stories - The Sea pleads helplessness

A shipwrecked man struggled mightily against the waves and was finally cast ashore, more dead than alive.

When finally he regained consciousness, he saw that the sea was as calm as a pond.

"How deceitful you are!" he shouted to the sea. "You draw men unto you showing your peaceful side but when they are in your power you wreak fury against them!"

The sea took the form of a woman to defend herself.

"Blame me not!" said the woman. "I'm always peaceful. It is the wind that creates waves and turns me into a monster."

Moral: Beware of people who are controlled by others.

Aesop stories - The Oil Lamp Humbled

An oil-lamp, observing how well it was lighting up the area around it, was filled with pride.

"Even the sun could not do better!" he boasted.

Just then the wind started to blow and the lamp went out.

"Next time you think of comparing yourself to the sun," said its owner, re-lighting it, "remember the sun doesn't have to be re-lit."

Aesop stories - The Foolish Donkey

An idol-maker had to deliver an idol to a customer. He placed it on his donkey's back and they started on their journey.

Now the idol-maker was extremely skilled at his job and this particular idol was one of the best he had ever made.

Whoever saw it, stopped to bow down and pray.

The donkey thought they were bowing to him.

He was enormously pleased and flattered and not wishing to go away from a place where he was held in such high esteem, came to an abrupt stop.

Nothing his master did would induce him to start walking again, and finally his master lifted the idol on to own head and resumed his journey.

The donkey stood where he was, head held high, and braying sonorously until he suddenly became aware that there was no one watching him.

The people were now following his master and bowing to the idol.

The donkey realized that his pride had clouded his judgment and feeling ashamed of himself, ran to rejoin his master.

Aesop stories - The Foolish Dog

There was once a dog that used to run up quietly behind people and bite their heels.

Fed up of the numerous complaints, the owner tied a bell around the dog’s neck so that the sound of the bell would alert people whenever the animal came near them.

The dog felt the bell was a reward of some sort and became extremely conceited, turning up his nose whenever he met other dogs on the street.

One day a hound brought him down to earth with some plain speaking and when the dog learnt why the bell had been put around his neck he slunk away in shame.

Moral: Sometimes what appears to be a clap on the back is actually a slap on the face.