Aesop

A crust eaten in peace is better than a banquet partaken in anxiety.

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.

A liar will not be believed, even when he speaks the truth.

Affairs are easier of entrance than of exit; and it is but common prudence to see our way out before we venture in.

After all is said and done, more is said than done.

Any excuse will serve a tyrant.

Appearances are often deceiving.

Be content with your lot; one cannot be first in everything.

Better be wise by the misfortunes of others than by your own.

Destroy the seed of evil, or it will grow up to your ruin.

He that always gives way to others will end in having no principles of his own.

If you allow men to use you for your own purposes, they will use you for theirs.

It is easy to be brave from a safe distance.

It is in vain to expect our prayers to be heard, if we do not strive as well as pray.

It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds.

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.

Outside show is a poor substitute for inner worth.

Plodding wins the race.

The gods help them that help themselves.

United we stand, divided we fall.

We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.

We would often be sorry if our wishes were gratified.

Profile / Biography

Aesop is a name that continues to live through the ages, and in fact is so legendary that his mysterious origins have led some scholars to deny his existence.  Aesop, of course, is known for writing several allegories with moral purposes that concern the workings of the world of animals.

Those who do believe in the existence of a real Aesop believe he lived from about 620 to 560 BC, and that he was an African slave in Greece.  Some believe that he was eventually freed from slavery but was killed by the Delphinians.

Aesop was believed to have toured Greece after his emancipation, and some think he may have infuriated some rulers with advocation of free speech and pointed moral barbs disguised as fables.  His influence was considerable, and his works highly impacted Arab regions during the time of Mohammed- some believe a chapter in the Koran refers to him.

Aesop’s purported African origins and his status as a slave were ideal in the creation of his fables.  Storytelling is a very popular form of communication among all African cultures, and the caution inherent in slavery would have provided the essence of Aesop’s double meanings.  His Greek environment would also have helped him develop his oratorical skills.

Some of Aesop’s most famous tales include The Boy Who Cried Wolf, The Tortoise and the Hare, and The Fox and the Grapes.