Aesop | Greece
The Bear and The Fox
A proud Bear boasted about his kindness, claiming he wouldn't harm a dead man, but a clever Fox questioned his treatment of the living.
Once upon a time, in a vast and serene forest, there lived a hefty and proud Bear and a clever little Fox.
One sunny day, Bear stood tall in the forest, boasting loudly to anyone who would listen. "I am the kindest Bear in all the land," he claimed, "So gentle, that I would never harm a man, even if he were already dead!"
The little Fox, who had been snoozing under a nearby tree, opened one eye and listened to the Bear's claim. She saw Bear thumping his chest, his voice echoing through the quiet forest. Slowly, Fox got up and approached the Bear.
"Oh, Bear!" said Fox, with a little yawn. "You say you would not harm a dead man, and I believe you, but don't you think it would be kinder if you didn't harm the living ones as well?"
Bear looked at the Fox, stunned and speechless. And with that, Fox just winked and trotted off, leaving Bear standing in the forest, thinking about what she had said.
