Aesop
|
Greece

The Donkey and His Purchaser

A man tries out an Donkey, but quickly returns it after realizing it will behave like the lazy Donkey it befriended.
Choice
Identity
Wisdom
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Aesop's Fables - The Donkey and His Purchaser
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time, there was a man who wanted to buy an Donkey. He went to the owner of the Donkey and they made an agreement. The man could take the Donkey home to try him out before deciding to buy.

So, the man brought the Donkey home and placed him in the straw-yard with his other Donkeyes. Right away, the new Donkey left all the others and joined the laziest, most food-loving Donkey of the bunch.

Seeing this, the man quickly put a halter on the new Donkey and led him back to the previous owner. The owner was surprised to see him back so soon and asked how the man could know so fast whether or not he wanted to buy the Donkey.

The man simply replied, "I don't need any more time. I already know that this Donkey will be just like the one he decided to befriend."

Once upon a time, in a land where animals could be sold and tested like 30-day free trials, a man thought, "Hey, why not get myself another Donkey?"

So, off he went to meet Mr. Donkey-Seller-Guy. The seller, being a modern kind of fellow, said, "Why not take him for a spin? You know, a test drive. See if he fits in with your other Donkeyes."

With a nod and a wink, the man happily trotted the new Donkey home. Now, the straw-yard was like the animal version of a school cafeteria. You could instantly tell who belonged to which clique.

Without missing a beat, the new Donkey, with all the choices in front of him, decided to plop right next to the laziest, pie-gobbling, ‘I'll-start-my-diet-tomorrow' Donkey.

The man, watching this, facepalmed. "Of all the Donkeyes in my yard, he had to choose HIM?"

So, with a quick ‘I knew it', the man slipped the halter on the new guy and began the walk of 'nope' back to the seller. The seller, looking as shocked as someone who's dropped their ice cream cone, said, "Back already?!"

The man, with a smirk, said, "Let's just say, show me an Donkey's friend, and I'll show you the Donkey."

There once was a man, so wise and so grand,
Who wanted an Donkey from a distant land.
He spoke to the owner, a deal they did strike,
To try out the Donkey, to see if he'd like.

Home went the man, with the Donkey close behind,
Into the straw-yard, to see what he'd find.
The new Donkey, quite quickly, made a choice of a friend,
The laziest, greediest, right to the end.

The man, with a sigh, knew just what to do,
Took the Donkey back, as the wind gently blew.
"Why so soon?" asked the owner, a hint of surprise,
"How'd you decide, before the sun's rise?"

The man gave a chuckle, not missing a beat,
"No trial needed, the story's complete.
For by choosing a buddy, lazy to the core,
It showed me the Donkey's true folklore."

In the land of creatures, as tales often say,
You're known by your friends in the light of the day.
Choose wisely and true, let your heart be the guide,
For friendships reflect who we are deep inside.

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Understanding Questions

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Understanding Questions
Reflection Questions
  1. Why do you think the new Donkey chose to befriend the laziest Donkey in the yard?
  2. How did the man decide so quickly that he didn't want to keep the new Donkey?
  3. Can you think of a time when you or someone you know made a quick judgment about someone based on their friends?
  4. What does this story teach us about the influence of the company we keep?
  5. How can we apply the lesson from this story in our daily life when choosing our friends?
Fable Quotes
A man is known by the company he keeps.
Who you are is often shown by who you're with.
True wisdom lies in recognizing the traits of others and making informed choices based on foresight.
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