Aesop Quotes (-620--560)

“The haft of the arrow had been feathered with one of the eagle's own plumes. We often give our enemies the means of our own destruction.”

“The shaft of the arrow had been feathered with one of the eagle's own plumes. We often give our enemies the means of our own destruction.”

“If you wish me well, do not stand pitying me, but lend me some succour as fast as you can; for pity is but cold comfort when one is up to the chin in water, and within a hair's breadth of starving or drowning.”

“A Fowler caught a Partridge, and was about to kill it. The Partridge earnestly besought him to spare his life, saying, "Pray, master, permit me to live, and I will entice many Partridges to you in recompense for your mercy to me." The Fowler replied, "I shall now with the less scruple take your life: because you are willing to save it at the cost of betraying your friends and relations."”

“There are certain artists who belong to all the people, everywhere, all the time. The list of singers, musicians, and poets must include David the harpist from the Old Testament, Aesop the Storyteller, Omar Khayyam the Tent Maker, Shakespeare the Bard of Avon, Louis Armstrong the genius of New Orleans, Om Kalsoum the soul of Egypt, Frank Sinatra, Mahalia Jackson, Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Charles...Celia Cruz...All great artists draw from the same resource: the human heart, which tells us all that we are more alike than we are unalike.”

“As deeply convinced as I am that fables and myths hold vivid and timeless lessons about reality, I find that Aesop also teaches us that truth can be simple. Perhaps the snobbish culture of our self-styled sophisticated world would dismiss “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” as too simplistic to deserve attention—a childish warning only. But the opposite is true: truth is simple. …Aesop reminds us that journalists and the media should avoid creating and spreading false news, alarmist language, and sensationalization of events. If they do not, the consequences are inevitable: when people finally uncover the truth beneath layers of flashy headlines, front-page exaggerations, and bombastic reports, they will lose trust and turn away from the media altogether.”