The Fox and the Leopard
A Fox and a Leopard, resting lazily after a generous dinner, amused themselves by disputing about their good looks. The Leopard was very proud of his glossy, spotted coat and made disdainful remarks about the Fox, whose appearance he declared was quite ordinary.
The Fox prided himself on his fine bushy tail with its tip white, but he was wise enough to see that he could not rival the Leopard in looks.
Still, he kept up a flow of sarcastic talk, just to exercise his wits and to have the fun of disputing.
The Leopard was about to lose his temper when the Fox got up, yawning lazily.
“You may have a very smart coat,” he said, “but you would be a great deal better off if you had a little more smartness inside your head and less on your ribs, the way I am.
That’s what I call real beauty.”
Moral of the story
Inner qualities matter: True beauty is not just about appearance but also about intelligence and wisdom.
Don’t judge by looks: A person’s worth goes beyond their external appearance
Questions for the children
- Why do you think the Fox and Leopard were disputing about their looks?
- Can you think of a time when someone surprised you with their abilities despite their appearance?
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.
