Aesop
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Greece

The Quack Frog

A boastful Frog claiming to be a physician is challenged by a Fox to cure his own appearance, leaving the Frog speechless and embarrassed.
Authenticity
Deception
Wisdom
Aesop's Fables - The Quack Frog
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time, in a lively pond lived a boisterous Frog who had a very peculiar habit. He liked to call himself a physician. Not just any physician, but the best one in the entire animal kingdom.

One day, as he was singing praises of his own expertise to anyone who would listen, a sly Fox happened to pass by. The Fox was known for his wit and he was intrigued by the Frog's claims. So, he decided to question the Frog.

"Dear Frog," began the Fox, looking at the Frog with an amused smile. "You say you're a physician. You claim you can cure every ailment, every disease, and every discomfort. But I see that you, yourself, are wrinkled and bumpy. If you truly are a great healer, shouldn't you be able to cure your own appearance first?"

The Frog looked at the Fox, a bit taken aback. He opened his mouth to speak, but found no words to answer the Fox's straightforward question.

And so, the Fox continued on his way, leaving the Frog in a state of embarrassed silence.

Once upon a jam-packed pond somewhere between the "Quack Quack" of the ducks and the buzz of the bees, lived a Frog—oh yes, self-declared physician, thank you very much. Picture him in a tiny lab coat if you will. This wasn't your garden-variety frog; this was a Frog with a PhD in Absolutely Nothing but believed he was the Einstein of the animal medical scene.

"Step right up, step right up!" the Frog croaked in his loudest infomercial voice. "Got a headache? Webbed feet acting up? I'm the one-stop-shop cure for whatever ails ya!"

Enter a Fox, sauntering by like he owns the place. He's heard tales, you know, whispers among the woodland critters about the Frog who thinks he's basically the Dr. Oz of the pond.

"So, you're the bee's knees at curing, eh?" the Fox grins, a touch of mischief in his eyes. "Got any cream for those warts? Oh, wait, that's your skin! My bad."

The Frog looked as though he'd just swallowed a fly. Wrong pipe, perhaps? "Well, you see—"

The Fox interrupts, "Nah, nah, nah, don't tell me. You're going for the rustic, lived-in look, aren't you?"

The Fox winks and flicks his tail, strutting away as the Frog sits there, croakless. I mean, when you've got no words, what's left but a loud ribbit, right?

And so, the Frog went back to his pond pondering life, rethinking perhaps a career switch to, oh I don't know, a pond critic or maybe a lily pad interior designer. And the Fox? He just carried on being sly, probably starting a podcast about debunking self-proclaimed experts.

Froggy Doc was loud and proud,
In his pond, he'd shout out loud.
"I heal! I cure! I mend!" he'd say,
"Best doctor, here, hooray, hooray!"

Sly Mr. Fox, with fur so fine,
Heard Froggy Doc and thought, "It's time."
He walked right up, a grin in place,
To question Frog, in this fun chase.

"Dear Froggy Doc, so skilled and grand,
You claim to be the best in land.
But why, oh why, you're bumpy still!
Can't fix yourself? Then who else will?"

Froggy Doc, he blinked and stared,
Realizing he'd been fairly snared.
No words he found, not one to say,
As sly Mr. Fox walked away.

So Froggy sat, a lesson learned,
Be humble, or be fairly spurned.
And Mr. Fox just grinned and knew,
Some claims need proof, or else they're through!

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Understanding Questions

Reflection Questions

  1. Why do you think the Frog liked to call himself a physician?
  2. How did the Fox expose the Frog's false claims?
  3. Can you think of a time when someone said they could do something, but they really couldn't?
  4. What does this story teach us about honesty and the importance of proving our claims?
  5. How can we use the lesson from this story to be careful about believing everything someone tells us?

Fable Quotes

True worth is found in being, not seeming.
A lie may entertain, but the truth always enlightens.
Wisdom is knowing our limits, especially in our strengths.
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