AESOP FABLES

• Plane Truth
• The Sea Pleads Helplessness
• The Foolish Dog
• The Unseen Enemy
• Last Boast
• Running With The Herd
• Defeated by Pride
• The oil-lamp humbled
• Timidity
• Pale Hunter
• Speedy Rabbit
• The Ailing Deer
• Boar with Foresight
• The Foolish Donkey
• The Clever Sheep
• Monkey Business
• Hanging Together
• A Cartload of Almonds
• Fox in the Cart
• Foxy Rooster

The Foolish Donkey

An idol-maker had to deliver an idol to a customer. He placed it on his donkey's back and they started on their journey.
Now the idol-maker was extremely skilled at his job and this particular idol was one of the best he had ever made. Whoever saw it, stopped to bow down and pray.
The donkey thought they were bowing to him.
He was enormously pleased and flattered and not wishing to go away from a place where he was held in such high esteem, came to an abrupt stop.
Nothing his master did would induce him to start walking again, and finally his master lifted the idol on to own head and resumed his journey.
The donkey stood where he was, head held high, and braying sonorously until he suddenly became aware that there was no one watching him. The people were now following his master and bowing to the idol.
The donkey realised that his pride had clouded his judgement and feeling ashamed of himself, ran to rejoin his master.