The Tortoise and the Hare
The Crow and the Pitcher The Hen That Laid the Golden Eggs The Ant and the Dove The Milkmaid and Her Dreams See more Aesop →

The Tortoise and the Hare

Aesop

3 min read Aesop Ages 6–8
The Tortoise and the Hare

The hare laughs at the tortoise's slow pace -- until the race tells a different story.

Once there was a fast hare who loved to boast about how quickly he could run. All the animals in the forest had heard how proud the hare was of his speed. One day, when the hare met the slow-moving tortoise, he couldn't help but make fun of her.

"You're so slow! How do you ever get anywhere?" said the hare with a big grin.

The tortoise, who was calm and wise, replied:

"How about a race? Let's see who reaches the finish line first."

The hare laughed loudly, but thought it might be an amusing challenge. The animals of the forest gathered to watch the race, and the course was set.

When the race began, the hare shot off at full speed. The tortoise, on the other hand, moved slowly and steadily, step by step. The hare glanced back and saw that the tortoise was far behind.

"This is too easy! I can take a nap and still win," the hare said to himself.

He lay down under a big tree to rest. Time passed, and the tortoise kept going without stopping. Slow as she was, she never gave up.

When the hare woke up, he stretched and looked toward the finish line. To his great surprise, the tortoise was almost there! He jumped up and ran as fast as he could, but it was too late. The tortoise crossed the finish line just in time.

All the animals cheered for the tortoise, and the hare stood there stunned.

"How did you manage that?" the hare asked.

"Endurance and effort are the key," the tortoise answered with a smile.

The Moral

Patience and Effort Pay Off

The Tortoise and the Hare

The Tortoise and the Hare teaches us that it isn't about how fast you start, but how steadily you work toward the goal.

This is a free adaptation of Aesop's classic fable from ancient Greece.

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