Library / Aesop’s Fables

The Mole and His Mother

A fable attributed to Aesop

Save
The Mole and His Mother

A mole, a creature blind from birth, once said to his mother, "I am sure that I can see, Mother!" In her desire to prove him wrong, his mother placed a few grains of frankincense before him and asked, "What is this?"

The young mole confidently replied, "It is a pebble."

His mother exclaimed, "My son, I am afraid that you are not only blind, but that you have also lost your sense of smell!"

This interaction highlights the challenges faced by those who cannot perceive the world in the same way as others, reminding us of the importance of our senses and the understanding that can come from different perspectives.

The moral
A lack of awareness and understanding of one's limitations can lead to misguided beliefs about oneself.

Discussion questions

  1. What does the young Mole’s belief about his ability to see tell us about self-awareness?
  2. How did the Mother Mole attempt to teach her son a lesson about his limitations?
  3. Can you think of a time when you were unaware of your own limitations? How did it affect you?

Advertisement

Read it in another language

Good night.

Tomorrow night: The Fox and the Crane