The Ass and His Shadow
Story Summary
In the simple short story "The Ass and His Shadow," a traveler hires an ass for transportation and seeks refuge from the intense heat under its shadow. A dispute ensues between the traveler and the ass's owner over who has the right to the shadow, escalating to a physical fight, during which the ass gallops away. This famous fable with moral illustrates that in quarreling over trivial matters, we often lose what is truly important, making it one of the best moral stories suitable for short bedtime stories with moral lessons.
Click to reveal the moral of the story
In our disputes over minor matters, we may overlook and lose what truly matters.
Historical Context
This fable, attributed to Aesop, reflects themes of human folly and the often trivial nature of disputes, showcasing the idea that focusing on minor grievances can lead to the loss of more significant benefits. Aesop's fables, originating in ancient Greece, have been retold across cultures, emphasizing moral lessons through simple narratives involving animals and humans. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of squabbling over inconsequential matters, a theme that resonates through various retellings in literature and folklore.
Our Editors Opinion
This fable serves as a reminder in modern life that focusing too much on trivial disputes can lead us to lose sight of what truly matters. For example, two colleagues might get embroiled in a heated argument over credit for a project, wasting time and energy—only to miss the deadline and jeopardize their team's success.
You May Also Like
The Ass and the Charger
In "The Ass and the Charger," a seemingly privileged Horse is envied by an Ass, who believes the Horse's life is easy and carefree. However, when the Horse is killed in battle while serving a soldier, the Ass learns a valuable lesson about the burdens hidden beneath a luxurious facade, illustrating the timeless moral stories that reveal the complexities of life. This engaging moral tale serves as a reminder that even those who appear to be well-cared-for face significant sacrifices, making it an ideal bedtime moral story for reflection.
The Gamecocks and the Partridge
In this fable story with moral, a man introduces a tame Partridge to his two aggressive Gamecocks, who initially distress the newcomer with their hostility. However, upon witnessing the Gamecocks fighting each other, the Partridge realizes that their aggression is not personal, leading to a valuable lesson about not taking others' actions to heart. This short moral story highlights the importance of understanding that conflicts often stem from nature rather than individual intent.
The Lion the Fox and the Ass
In the short moral story "The Lion, the Fox and the Ass," three animals agree to share the spoils of a hunt. After the Ass is devoured by the Lion for dividing the loot equally, the Fox wisely learns from this misfortune and takes the largest portion for himself when asked to divide the spoils. This tale, part of folklore and moral stories, emphasizes the importance of learning from others' experiences, making it a fitting choice for bedtime moral stories.
Other names for this story
"Dispute Over Shade, The Shadow Dispute, The Ass and His Shade, Quarreling for Shade, The Lost Shadow, Shade of the Ass, The Shadow Dilemma, The Tale of the Disputed Shadow"
Did You Know?
This story illustrates the folly of focusing on trivial disputes at the expense of what truly matters, highlighting how human conflicts can lead to losing valuable opportunities or resources, much like the traveler and the owner losing the ass itself while arguing over its shadow.
Subscribe to Daily Stories
Get a new moral story in your inbox every day.