The Ass Carrying the Image
A special Picture was being carried to the temple. It was mounted on a Donkey adorned with garlands and fancy decorations, and a big procession of priests and pages followed it through the streets.
As the Donkey walked along, the people bowed their heads respectfully or fell on their knees, and the Donkey thought the respect was being paid to himself.
With his head full of this silly idea, he became so puffed up with pride and vanity that he stopped and started to bray loudly.
But in the middle of his song, his driver guessed what the Donkey had got into his head and began to beat him very hard with a stick.
“Go along with you, you silly Donkey,” he cried. “The respect is not meant for you but for the picture you are carrying.”
Do not try to take the praise to yourself that is due to others.
Moral of the story
It’s important to understand when recognition is meant for others, not yourself.
Don’t let pride and vanity make you believe you deserve credit that belongs to someone else.
Questions for the children
- Why do you think the Donkey believed the honor was for him?
- How can we make sure we give credit to the right person for their achievements?
Post Note: This story is based on Aesop’s fable, written around 600 BC. In this retelling, we’ve used simpler words to make the story easier for young readers to understand.
