Aesop | Greece
The Dogs and The Fox
Dogs found a Lion's skin in the forest and felt brave, but a Fox warned them that true courage is facing a live lion.

Once upon a time, in a thick, green forest, a group of Dogs happened upon something unusual. It was a Lion's skin, deserted and left in the wild. Seeing the skin of such a formidable beast, the Dogs felt bold and brave. They jumped onto it, gnawing and tugging with their teeth, their barks echoing through the trees.
Just then, a Fox, known in the forest for his quick thinking and sharp wit, stumbled upon the commotion. He watched from a distance as the Dogs wildly tore into the Lion's skin, their tails wagging in excitement. The sight brought a smirk to the Fox's face, and he chuckled to himself.
He approached the Dogs, his laughter ringing in the air, making the Dogs pause and look at him with curiosity. The Fox then spoke, "Oh, brave and daring Dogs! Isn't it easy to tear into a Lion's skin when the Lion is not inside it?"
The Dogs tilted their heads, puzzling over his words. "What do you mean?" one of them asked.
The Fox continued, "If the Lion were here, alive and roaring, would you dare to do the same? His claws are far more fierce and sharp than your teeth."
The Dogs looked at each other, their excitement replaced with a bit of unease. The Fox's words had struck a chord. They realized that it was easy to act brave when there was no real danger. The real test of courage would be to face the Lion when he was alive and not when he was just a harmless skin.



















