The Goat and the Goatherd
Story Summary
In "The Goat and the Goatherd," a goatherd's attempt to retrieve a stray goat culminates in the accidental breaking of its horn, leading him to plead for silence. However, the goat wisely reminds him that the broken horn will reveal the truth, illustrating a culturally significant moral about the futility of concealing what cannot be hidden. This entertaining moral story serves as a thought-provoking reminder that some truths are inescapable.
Click to reveal the moral of the story
You cannot conceal the truth; it will eventually be revealed.
Historical Context
This fable, attributed to Aesop in ancient Greece, reflects moral lessons common in storytelling traditions where animals represent human traits. The story's theme of inevitable truth and the futility of deception resonates across various cultures, paralleling similar tales like those found in the Panchatantra of India, highlighting the universal nature of honesty and the consequences of dishonesty.
Our Editors Opinion
This story highlights the futility of trying to conceal wrongdoing, as the truth often reveals itself despite our best efforts. In modern life, an employee might try to cover up a mistake at work, only for the error to come to light through an audit, demonstrating that dishonesty ultimately leads to greater consequences.
You May Also Like
The Fighting Cocks and the Eagle
In this captivating moral story, two game cocks battle for dominance in a farmyard, with one ultimately emerging victorious. However, the conqueror's pride leads to its capture by an eagle, allowing the defeated cock to take over without challenge. This wisdom-packed tale illustrates that pride often precedes one's downfall, serving as a concise moral lesson in humility.
The Salt Merchant and His Ass
In this quick moral story, a peddler's Ass attempts to lighten its load of salt by intentionally falling into a stream, but the clever peddler sees through this trick and replaces the salt with sponges. When the Ass falls again, the sponges absorb water, resulting in a double burden instead of relief. This folklore teaches a meaningful lesson on the consequences of deceit in life-changing stories with moral implications for students.
Two Kings
In the short moral story "Two Kings," the King of Madagao, embroiled in a dispute with the King of Bornegascar, demands the recall of his rival's Minister. Faced with an enraged refusal and the threat to withdraw the Minister instead, the terrified King of Madagao hastily complies, only to comically trip and fall, humorously violating the Third Commandment. This tale, rooted in folklore, serves as a reminder of the consequences of pride and hasty decisions in well-known moral stories.
Other names for this story
The Silenced Horn, The Goatherd's Dilemma, Secrets of the Goatherd, The Goat's Warning, Unhidden Truths, The Stray Goat's Lesson, The Goatherd's Folly, When Horns Speak
Did You Know?
This fable illustrates the theme of the inevitability of truth, emphasizing that attempts to conceal one's actions or mistakes are futile when evidence exists, as symbolized by the broken horn that will reveal the goatherd's wrongdoing.
Subscribe to Daily Stories
Get a new moral story in your inbox every day.