One hot day, a hungry fox was walking through an orchard when he saw a bunch of ripe grapes hanging from a high vine.
"Just the thing for a thirsty throat," he said.
He stepped back, took a run and jumped. His jaws snapped shut on empty air. He tried again, and again he missed.
The fox turned around and jumped from the other side. He tried until his legs ached and his paws were sore, but the grapes were always just out of reach.
At last he gave up. He put his nose in the air and walked away.
"I am sure they are sour anyway," he said. "I never wanted them."
It is easy to dislike what you cannot have.
Discussion questions
- Why does the Fox say the grapes are sour?
- Do you think the Fox believes what he says?
- Why is it sometimes hard to admit we cannot do something?
Questions about this fable
What is the moral of The Fox and the Grapes?
The moral is that people often disparage things they want but cannot have to save face. It illustrates the concept of 'sour grapes,' where one pretends something is worthless because it is unattainable.
Where does the phrase 'sour grapes' come from?
The idiom originates directly from this Aesop’s fable. It describes the attitude of someone who acts as if something is undesirable only because they failed to achieve or acquire it.
Is the fox in the story real or metaphorical?
While the story features a literal fox, it serves as a metaphor for human behavior and psychological defense mechanisms. The fox represents anyone who uses rationalization to cope with failure.
Who wrote The Fox and the Grapes?
The story is attributed to Aesop, a storyteller believed to have lived in ancient Greece. His fables were passed down orally for centuries before being recorded in various literary collections.
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Good night.
Tomorrow night: The Fox and the Crane
