No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
– Aesop
Be content with your lot; one cannot be first in everything.
– Aesop
Union gives strength.
– Aesop
A crust eaten in peace is better than a banquet partaken in anxiety.
– Aesop
Thinking to get at once all the gold the goose could give, he killed it and opened it only to find – nothing.
– Aesop
Self-conceit may lead to self-destruction.
– Aesop
Slow and steady wins the race.
– Aesop
A peasant had in his garden an apple-tree, which bore no fruit, but only served as a perch for the sparrows and grasshoppers. He resolved to cut it down, and, taking his ax in hand, made
a bold stroke at its roots. The grasshoppers and sparrows entreated him not to cut down the tree that sheltered them, but to spare it, and they would sing to him and lighten his labors.
He paid no attention to their request, but gave the tree a second and a third blow with his ax. When he reached the hollow of the tree, he found a hive full of honey. Having tasted the
honeycomb, he threw down his ax, and, looking on the tree as sacred, took great care of it. Self-interest alone moves some men.
– Aesop
People often grudge others what they cannot enjoy themselves.
– Aesop
The gods help them that help themselves.
– Aesop
It is thrifty to prepare today for the wants of tomorrow.
– Aesop
Familiarity breeds contempt.
– Aesop
Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.
– Aesop
Do not count your chickens before they are hatched.
– Aesop
It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds.
– Aesop
He that always gives way to others will end in having no principles of his own.
– Aesop
We would often be sorry if our wishes were gratified.
– Aesop
Once upon a time, the wolves sent an embassy to the sheep, desiring that there might be peace between them for the time to come. “Why,” said they, “should we be for ever waging this deadly strife? Those wicked dogs are the cause of all; they are incessantly barking at us, and provoking us. Send them away, and there will be no longer any obstacle to our eternal friendship and peace.” The silly sheep listened, the dogs were dismissed, and the flock, thus deprived of their best protectors, became an easy prey to their treacherous enemy.
– Aesop
The unhappy derive comfort from the misfortunes of others.
– Aesop
Never trust the advice of a man in difficulties.
– Aesop
It is easy to be brave at a safe distance.
– Aesop
He that is discontented in one place will seldom be happy in another.
– Aesop
Better be wise by the misfortunes of others than by your own.
– Aesop
Any excuse will serve a tyrant.
– Aesop
The north wind and the sun were disputing which was the stronger, and agreed to acknowledge as the victor whichever of them could strip a traveler of his clothing. The wind tried first. But its violent gusts only made the man hold his clothes tightly around him, and when it blew harder still the cold made him so uncomfortable that he put on an extra wrap. Eventually the wind got tired of it and handed him over to the sun. The sun shone first with a moderate warmth, which made the man take off his topcoat. Then it blazed fiercely, till, unable to stand the heat, he stripped and went off to bathe in a nearby river. Persuasion is more effective than force.
– Aesop
Wise men say nothing in dangerous times.
– Aesop
Fine clothes may disguise, but silly words will disclose a fool.
– Aesop
A doubtful friend is worse than a certain enemy. Let a man be one thing or the other, and we then know how to meet him.
– Aesop
Adventure is worthwhile.
– Aesop
A liar will not be believed even when he speaks the truth.
– Aesop
Expect no reward when you serve the wicked, and be thankful if you escape injury for your pain.
– Aesop
No argument, no matter how convincing, will give courage to a coward.
– Aesop
It is easy to despise what you cannot get.
– Aesop
We often give our enemies the means for our own destruction.
– Aesop
Example is the best precept.
– Aesop
Those who cry the loudest are not always the ones who are hurt the most.
– Aesop
We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.
– Aesop
Self-help is the best help.
– Aesop
Please all, and you will please none.
– Aesop
Every man carries two bags about him, one in front and one behind, and both are full of faults. The bag in front contains his neighbors’ faults, the one behind his own. Hence it is that men do not see their own faults, but never fail to see those of others.
– Aesop
Appearances are often deceiving.
– Aesop
It is with our passions, as it is with fire and water, they are good servants but bad masters.
– Aesop
Beware the wolf in sheep’s clothing.
– Aesop
Betray a friend, and you’ll often find you have ruined yourself.
– Aesop
Necessity is the mother of invention.
– Aesop
Injuries may be forgiven, but not forgotten.
– Aesop
It is one thing to conceive a good plan, and another to execute it.
– Aesop
Two frogs dwelt in the same pool. The pool being dried up under the summer’s heat, they left it, and set out together to seek another home. As they went along they chanced to pass a deep well, amply supplied with water, on seeing which one of the frogs said to the other, “Let us descend and make our abode in this well, it will furnish us with shelter and food.” The other replied with greater caution: “But suppose the water should fail us, how can we get out again from so great a depth?” Do nothing without a regard to the consequences.
– Aesop
Outside show is a poor substitute for inner worth.
– Aesop
The fly sat upon the axeltree of the chariot-wheel and said, “What a dust do I raise!”
– Aesop
Facts speak plainer than words.
– Aesop
Little by little does the trick.
– Aesop
Sometimes the slow ones blame the active for the delay.
– Aesop
Don’t cry over spilt milk.
– Aesop
Don’t let your special character and values, the secret that you know and no one else does,
the truth – don’t let that get swallowed up by the great chewing complacency.
– Aesop
In critical moments even the very powerful have need of the weakest.
– Aesop
The smaller the mind, the greater the conceit.
– Aesop
Adversity tests the sincerity of friends.
– Aesop
Persuasion is often more effectual than force.
– Aesop
A troublesome crow seated herself on the back of a sheep. The sheep, much against his will, carried her backward and forward for a long time, and at last said, “If you had treated a dog in this way, you would have had your deserts from his sharp teeth.” To this the crow replied, “I despise the weak, and yield to the strong. I know whom I may bully, and whom I must flatter; and thus I hope to prolong my life to a good old age.”
– Aesop