Library / Aesop’s Fables

The Old Woman and the Wine-Jar

A fable attributed to Aesop

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The Old Woman and the Wine-Jar

You must know that sometimes old women enjoy a glass of wine. One such woman once stumbled upon a wine jar lying in the road. Eagerly, she approached it, hoping to find it full.

However, when she picked it up, she discovered that all the wine had been drunk out of it. Undeterred, she took a long sniff at the mouth of the jar.

"Ah," she cried, "What memories cling to the instruments of our pleasure!"

The moral
The past can evoke fond memories, even when the source of pleasure has long been depleted.

Discussion questions

  1. What emotions does the old woman experience when she finds the empty wine-jar?
  2. How does this story reflect the idea that memories can be cherished even when the source of pleasure is gone?
  3. Can you think of a personal experience where a memory brought you joy despite the situation being different now?

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Good night.

Tomorrow night: The Fox and the Crane