Aesop (c.620–c.564 BCE) was a Greek fabulist and storyteller. The body of work that has come down to us under his name provides pointers to the culture of the Ancient World.
Aesop is the assumed author of the whole stock of Greek fables that are some of the most enduringly prevalent works of Ancient Greek literature. A rare example of the classical world that has survived, Aesop’s fables have kept children entertained for generations.
Aesop’s fables first became known to the West during the Renaissance by way of the 14th Century prose form composed by the Byzantine scholar Maximus Planudes.
Researchers debate whether Aesop existed at all, but the moral animal fables associated with Aesop were most likely collected from many sources and passed on orally.
According to legend, as in the novel The Aesop Romance (dated to the first or second centuries CE,) Aesop was an unsightly slave who was dumb until granted the power of speech by the Goddess Isis. In stories of his life, he is frequently found outsmarting his master and speaking truth to power employing his new gift of the gab.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Aesop
It is easy to be brave from a safe distance.
—Aesop
Topics: Courage, Brave, Bravery
Little by little does the trick.
—Aesop
Topics: Little Things, Things, One Step at a Time
He that always gives way to others will end in having no principles of his own.
—Aesop
Men often bear little grievances with less courage than they do large misfortunes.
—Aesop
Topics: Adversity
Appearances often are deceiving.
—Aesop
I will have nought to do with a man who can blow hot and cold with the same breath.
—Aesop
A farmer who had a quarrelsome family called his sons and told them to lay a bunch of sticks before him. Then, after laying the sticks parallel to one another and binding them, he challenged his sons, one after one, to pick up the bundle and break it. They all tried, but in vain. Then, untying the bundle, he gave them the sticks to break one by one. This they did with the greatest ease. Then said the father, Thus, my sons, as long as you remain united, you are a match for anything, but differ and separate, and you are undone.
—Aesop
Topics: Family
We should look to the mind, and not to the outward appearance.
—Aesop
Topics: The Mind, Mind
Slow and steady wins the race.
—Aesop
Topics: Patience, Endurance, Resolve, Perseverance
A crust eaten in peace is better than a banquet partaken in anxiety.
—Aesop
Topics: Anxiety, Stress
We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.
—Aesop
Topics: Government
Please all, and you will please none.
—Aesop
Topics: Pleasing, Praise
Fine feathers make fine birds.
—Aesop
Obscurity brings safety.
—Aesop
Vices are their own punishment.
—Aesop
Topics: Vice
Affairs are easier of entrance than of exit; and it is but common prudence to see our way out before we venture in.
—Aesop
Topics: Help, Cooperation, Foresight
The level of our success is limited only by our imagination and no act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.
—Aesop
Topics: Imagination
Destroy the seed of evil, or it will grow up to your ruin.
—Aesop
Topics: Evil
The smaller the mind the greater the conceit.
—Aesop
No Act of Kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
—Aesop
Topics: Work, Kindness
Better be wise by the misfortunes of others than by your own.
—Aesop
Topics: Misfortune
A doubtful friend is worse than a certain enemy. Let a man be one thing or the other, and we then know how to meet him.
—Aesop
Topics: Enemies
We would often be sorry if our wishes were gratified.
—Aesop
Topics: Wishes, One liners, Success is not everything
Familiarity breeds contempt.
—Aesop
Topics: Familiarity, Knowledge
The unhappy derive comfort from the misfortunes of others.
—Aesop
Topics: Misfortunes, Unhappiness, One liners, Fortune
There once was a bald man who sat down after work on a hot summer’s day. A fly came up and kept buzzing about his bald pate, and stinging him from time to time. The man aimed a blow at his little enemy, but – whack – his palm come on his own head instead; again the fly tormented him, but this time the man was wiser and said: “you will only injure yourself if you take notice of dispicable enemies.”
—Aesop
Topics: Enemy, Enemies
People often grudge others what they cannot enjoy themselves.
—Aesop
Union gives strength.
—Aesop
Topics: Help, Cooperation
Never trust the advice of a man in difficulties.
—Aesop
Topics: Advice, Difficulty, Trust
He that is discontented in one place will seldom be happy in another.
—Aesop
Topics: Opportunities, Reality, Discontent
Every truth has two sides; it is as well to look at both, before we commit ourselves to either.
—Aesop
Men often applaud an imitation and hiss the real thing.
—Aesop
Topics: Innovation, Originality, One liners
Man, don’t sprawl there. Get up and put your shoulder to the wheel. The gods help them that help themselves.
—Aesop
Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow.
—Aesop
Topics: Danger, Illusion
No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.
—Aesop
Topics: Kindness
Self-conceit may lead to self destruction.
—Aesop
Topics: Pride, Modesty
The little reed, bending to the force of the wind, soon stood upright again when the storm had passed over.
—Aesop
Topics: Adventure
Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched.
—Aesop
Topics: Expectation
Be content with your lot; one cannot be first in everything.
—Aesop
Topics: Blessings, Appreciation, Gratitude
Appearances are often deceiving.
—Aesop
Topics: Appearance
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