The Widow and the Sheep
Story Summary
In this entertaining moral story, a poor widow attempts to shear her only Sheep herself to save money, but her clumsiness results in injuring the animal instead of simply taking its fleece. The Sheep wisely points out that while she aims to minimize expenses, her actions lead to greater suffering. This simple short story with moral teaches that the least outlay is not always the greatest gain, a lesson often found in popular moral stories and engaging moral tales.
Click to reveal the moral of the story
Attempting to save costs can lead to greater losses and unintended harm.
Historical Context
This fable echoes themes found in Aesop's Fables, a collection of moral tales attributed to the ancient Greek storyteller Aesop in the 6th century BCE. The story highlights the folly of attempting to save money at the expense of one's well-being or that of others, a lesson prevalent in various cultural retellings, including those by La Fontaine in 17th-century France. It serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of short-sightedness and the importance of valuing proper care over immediate savings.
Our Editors Opinion
This story highlights the dangers of prioritizing short-term savings over long-term well-being, a lesson that resonates in modern life where quick fixes often lead to greater costs. For example, a small business owner might try to save money by managing their own finances without professional help, resulting in costly tax errors that could have been avoided by investing in an accountant.
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Other names for this story
The Widow's Misfortune, Shearing Gone Wrong, A Widow's Dilemma, The Costly Shear, Wool and Woes, The Painful Fleece, The Widow's Sheep Story, Lessons from the Shears
Did You Know?
This story illustrates the theme that cutting corners to save costs can lead to greater losses, as the widow's attempt to save money on shearing ultimately caused her more harm than good. It serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of recognizing the value of proper care and expertise over immediate savings.
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