The Fox And The Grapes

On a warm late summer day, the proud fox roamed the countryside. His reddish-brown fur shone in the sun and a light wind blew through the surrounding bushes.

Birds chirped in the trees and everything seemed peaceful and quiet. Looking for something to eat, the fox let his gaze wander through the area.

Since he hadn’t eaten anything all day, his stomach was grumbling. “I really need something to eat, otherwise I’ll starve to death!” thought the fox.

Suddenly he caught sight of a magnificent vine growing on the roof of the old farmhouse. Countless grapes were hanging from it, sparkling in the sun in a strong blue color. “That’s just the thing now!” the fox whooped and ran to the farm.

From below, he could watch the little titmice and blackbirds snacking on one grape after another. They seemed to visibly enjoy them, as the birds couldn’t get enough of them.

“That’s a piece of cake for me,” thought the fox and took a few steps. With a great leap, he jumped up and reached for the grapes with his paw.

But the fox missed the shining grapes and landed back on the ground without anything edible in his paws.

“I guess I didn’t take enough of a running start. Two more steps and I’ll hold the whole vine in my paws,” he thought cockily.

But on his next attempt, his paws also grasped at nothing and he landed on the ground again without a grape. The fox tried again and again, but each of his attempts to pick a few grapes from the vine failed.

Half an hour and countless jumps later, the fox was completely out of breath. Full of anger and defiance, he snorted, “Duh! I would make a real effort if these grapes were at least ripe and sweet. But these sour grapes are not worth my effort at all!”

The titmice and blackbirds were completely unperturbed by his goings-on and snacked on one grape after another. With empty paws and grumbling stomach, the proud fox turned away and continued to roam the countryside.

What is the moral of The Fox And The Grapes?

The story of the fox and the grapes has two lessons. First, it shows that one should not desire anything beyond one’s reach. Second, it illustrates that some people prefer to blame their failures on circumstances after the fact rather than naming the real causes.

What do you think?

From your point of view, what is the moral of this fable? Let us know in the comments!

Note: This story is based on Aesop’s fable, written around 600 BC. It was modernized and illustrated by us.

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