Keep in mind that Aesop’s Fables didn’t originally come with morals! That’s a strictly Victorian perversion.
The Fables were originally meant to be understood and interpreted by everyone who heard them, themselves.
(edit) I will further note that many of the “traditional” morals pasted onto some of the Fables don’t actually make much sense when looked at critically. Does “slow and steady wins the race” make sense in itself, much less as an explanation for “The Tortoise and the Hare”?
A much more plausible moral would be “talent is good, but hard work is better”.
Amy and Betty are both sick and they have medicine to make them better—they have to take one tablet a day. Amy gets lazy and misses a few days, then tries to make up for it by taking a whole bunch at once. Instead of getting better—she gets really sick from overdose. Whereas Amy’s friend Betty who continued to take the medicine one day at a time, every day—got better.
The moral here is that for some activities (eg taking medicine, exercise, maintaining a relationship or learning a new skill..). you have to put in small amount of regular, continuous effort—rather than thinking you can make up for it by overdosing on a large amount at one time.
Keep in mind that Aesop’s Fables didn’t originally come with morals! That’s a strictly Victorian perversion.
The Fables were originally meant to be understood and interpreted by everyone who heard them, themselves.
(edit) I will further note that many of the “traditional” morals pasted onto some of the Fables don’t actually make much sense when looked at critically. Does “slow and steady wins the race” make sense in itself, much less as an explanation for “The Tortoise and the Hare”?
A much more plausible moral would be “talent is good, but hard work is better”.
Actually I think it is an important lesson.
A good, modern, quick example might be:
Amy and Betty are both sick and they have medicine to make them better—they have to take one tablet a day. Amy gets lazy and misses a few days, then tries to make up for it by taking a whole bunch at once. Instead of getting better—she gets really sick from overdose. Whereas Amy’s friend Betty who continued to take the medicine one day at a time, every day—got better.
The moral here is that for some activities (eg taking medicine, exercise, maintaining a relationship or learning a new skill..). you have to put in small amount of regular, continuous effort—rather than thinking you can make up for it by overdosing on a large amount at one time.
Alternative moral: “No matter how great you are, there exists a level of pride sufficient to bring you down.”