Story Summary
Discover the classic tale of The Miser and His Gold. This Aesop fable teaches us that wealth is meaningless and serves no purpose if it is never put to use.
Once there was a miser who sold all his possessions to buy a single lump of gold. Fearing it might be stolen, he buried it in a hole by an old wall and visited it every day to gloat over his treasure. One of his workmen, noticing the frequent visits, followed him and discovered the secret. That night, the workman dug up the gold and made off with it. When the miser returned the next day and found the hole empty, he began to tear his hair and lament loudly. A neighbor, hearing his cries and learning the cause, said, 'Why grieve so? Go and find a stone, place it in the hole, and imagine it is your gold. It will do you quite as much good, for when the gold was there, you never used it anyway.'
The Moral
Wealth is worth nothing if it is not put to use.
“A possession is worth no more than the use we make of it.”
Fun Fact
This fable is frequently cited by economists to illustrate the 'paradox of thrift' and the idea that money only derives value from its exchangeability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the moral of The Miser and His Gold?
The moral is that wealth has no intrinsic value unless it is used for a practical purpose. Hoarding resources without intent to spend them makes them as useless as a common stone.
How did the miser lose his gold?
The miser was robbed by a workman who had observed his daily routine of visiting the hidden hole. Because the miser visited the spot so frequently, he inadvertently revealed its location to the thief.
What did the neighbor suggest to the miser?
The neighbor told the miser to bury a stone and pretend it was gold. He argued that since the miser never intended to spend the gold, the stone would serve the exact same purpose as the treasure did.
What does the gold represent in this fable?
The gold represents potential and opportunity that is wasted through greed or fear. It serves as a symbol for any resource that is possessed but never utilized for the benefit of oneself or others.
Why is this story attributed to Aesop?
This tale is part of the Perry Index of Aesop's Fables, a collection of stories used in Ancient Greece to teach ethical lessons. It has been retold for centuries as a foundational lesson in economics and character.
What is the miser's tragic flaw?
The miser's flaw is his inability to distinguish between the possession of wealth and the utility of wealth. He values the mere existence of the gold over the security or comfort it could provide.