Aesop
|
Greece

The Lion and An Ass

The Lion, a respected leader, ignored an Ass's disrespectful behavior, teaching others that true strength lies in composure and dignity.
Strength
Respect
Wisdom
The Town Mouse and The Country Mouse
Audio available for B1 version

In a vast forest, the Lion, who held the position of leader, strolled peacefully one day. All the other animals, acknowledging his authority, respectfully made way for him. However, as the Lion passed by the Ass, the Ass emitted a rude noise.

Initially, the Lion felt a surge of anger. He glanced back and noticed the Ass, still chuckling at his own jest. Surprisingly, instead of engaging in a fight or retaliating with words, the Lion did something unexpected. He simply continued walking as if nothing had transpired.

Left bewildered, the Ass stood there, unsure of what to do. He anticipated the Lion's wrath and a subsequent pursuit, yet the Lion remained passive.

Observing this, the other animals comprehended the Lion's choice. They realized that the Lion didn't wish to waste his energy on the Ass. They witnessed the Lion's ability to maintain composure and uphold his self-respect. This revelation taught them that genuine strength is not solely physical; it also lies in the capability to control anger and behave with dignity.

In a big ol' forest that was practically bursting with critters of all sorts, the Lion, who was basically the forest's CEO, was out for a leisurely strut. Birds chirped a tune like they were his personal Spotify playlist, squirrels scampered away like someone yelled "Free acorns!", and even the skunks... well, they tried their best to smell less skunky. Now, everyone moved out of Lion's way like he was a celebrity walking the red carpet. But then comes the Ass. This cheeky fella decides it's the perfect moment to let out a noise that was, let's say, less than musical. Like, a tuba player falling down a flight of stairs kind of noise.

The Lion, he feels his mane get all hot and frazzled. He spins around and sees the Ass, who's laughing so hard, he's practically braying his head off. And what does the Lion do? Something straight out of left field. He just keeps walking like he's got noise-cancelling paws or something.

The Ass is flabbergasted, he's standing there, ears flopping in the wind, waiting for the drama to unfold. He was sure the Lion was going to put the 'roar' in 'retaliation.' But the Lion? Nope, he's as chill as a smoothie in a snowstorm. So, all the forest dwellers, they're watching this. They're like, "Wow, Lion just turned a 'donkey diss' into a 'don't care!'"

And so, it became the talk of the woodland water cooler, how the Lion didn't get his tail in a twist. He showed 'em all that being strong isn't just about having teeth and claws that could audition for a horror film. No siree, it's also about keeping your cool when someone else is acting the fool.

And that, kiddos, is what they call a lesson in "dignity with a capital ROAR!"

Deep within woods where shadows play,
The mighty Lion went on his way.
Every creature, big and small,
Stepped aside, respecting his call.

Amidst the hush, an Ass did neigh,
Loud and bold, wanting to play.
With a smirk and eyes shining bright,
He thought the Lion might want to fight.

But the regal beast, wise and fine,
Didn’t snap, roar, or give a sign.
With quiet grace, he chose to move,
Showing there's nothing he needed to prove.

The Ass was puzzled, his laughter done,
Thinking a chase had surely begun.
But it never came, to his surprise,
The Lion's choice opened his eyes.

Through the trees, tales did fly,
Of the Lion's calm and the reason why.
For true strength isn't just in a roar,
But in patience, and not keeping score.

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Understanding Questions

Reflection Questions

  1. How did the Lion react when the Ass made a rude noise, and why do you think he reacted this way?
  2. If you were the Lion, how would you have reacted to the Ass's behavior, and why?
  3. Can you remember a time when someone was rude to you and you chose not to respond?
  4. What does the Lion's response teach us about the strength in staying calm and maintaining dignity?
  5. How can we apply this lesson from the Lion's response to situations we face in our everyday life?

Fable Quotes

True strength is not just physical, but lies in the heart that can control anger and uphold respect.
Respect is a sign of strength, shown not by retaliation, but by maintaining dignity in the face of disrespect.
True wisdom lies in choosing battles wisely, preserving energy for what truly matters.
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