“Uninvited guests are often most welcome when they leave”

AN ASTRONOMER used to go out at night to observe the stars. One evening, as he wandered through the suburbs with his whole attention fixed on the sky, he fell accidentally into a deep well. While he lamented and bewailed his sores and bruises, and cried loudly for help, a neighbor ran to the well, and learning what had happened said: "Hark ye, old fellow, why, in striving to pry into what is in heaven, do you not manage to see what is on earth?”

“Every man carries two bags about him, one in front and one behind, and both are full of faults. The bag in front contains his neighbors' faults, the one behind his own. Hence it is that men do not see their own faults, but never fail to see those of others.”

“Do not attempt to hide things which cannot be hidden.”

“United you will be more than a match for your enemies. But if you quarrel and separate, your weakness will put you at the mercy of those who attack you.”

“Servants don't know a good master till they have served a worse.”

“Keep your place in life and your place will keep you”

A Crow was sitting on a branch of a tree with a piece of cheese in her beak when a Fox observed her and set his wits to work to discover some way of getting the cheese. Coming and standing under the tree he looked up and said, "What a noble bird I see above me! Her beauty is without equal, the hue of her plumage exquisite. If only her voice is as sweet as her looks are fair, she ought without doubt to be Queen of the Birds." The Crow was hugely flattered by this, and just to show the Fox that she could sing she gave a loud caw. Down came the cheese, of course, and the Fox, snatching it up, said, "You have a voice, madam, I see: what you want is wits.”

A hungry Fox saw some fine bunches of Grapes hanging from a vine that was trained along a high trellis, and did his best to reach them by jumping as high as he could into the air. But it was all in vain, for they were just out of reach: so he gave up trying, and walked away with an air of dignity and unconcern, remarking, "I thought those Grapes were ripe, but I see now they are quite sour.”

“Sometimes the slow ones blame the active for the delay.”

“Facts speak plainer than words”

“It is one thing to conceive a good plan, and another to execute it”

“No argument, no matter how convincing, will give courage to a coward”

“Persuasion is better than force.”

“It is thrifty to prepare today for wants of tomorrow.”

“It is absurd to ape our betters.”

“I am sure the grapes are sour. ”

“...convinced that in trying to please all, he had pleased none, and had lost his ass into the bargain.”

“Much wants more and loses all.”

“Better poverty without a care than wealth with its many obligations.”

“Lay not the blame on me, O sailor, but on the winds. By nature I am as calm and safe as the land itself, but the winds fall upon me with their gusts and gales, and lash me into a fury that is not natural to me.”

A NUMBER of Flies were attracted to a jar of honey which had been overturned in a housekeeper's room, and placing their feet in it, ate greedily. Their feet, however, became so smeared with the honey that they could not use their wings, nor release themselves, and were suffocated. Just as they were expiring, they exclaimed, "O foolish creatures that we are, for the sake of a little pleasure we have destroyed ourselves." Pleasure bought with pains, hurts.”

“Misfortune tests the sincerity of friends.”

“If you are wise you won't be deceived by the innocent airs of those whom you have once found to be dangerous.”

“Those who enter through the back door can expect to be shown out through the window”

“Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.”

“Slow but steady wins the race.”

“In critical moments even the very powerful have need of the weakest.”

“The tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny.”

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

“What is most truly valuable is often underrated.”

“I thought these grapes were ripe, but I see now they are quite sour.”

“Thinking to get at once all the gold the goose could give, he killed it and opened it only to find - nothing.”

“Self-help is the best help.”

“The beasts of the field and forest had a Lion as their king. He was neither wrathful, cruel, nor tyrannical, but just and gentle as a king could be. During his reign he made a royal proclamation for a general assembly of all the birds and beasts, and drew up conditions for a universal league, in which the Wolf and the Lamb, the Panther and the Kid, the Tiger and the Stag, the Dog and the Hare, should live together in perfect peace and amity. The Hare said, “Oh, how I have longed to see this day, in which the weak shall take their place with impunity by the side of the strong.” And after the Hare said this, he ran for his life.”

“If these town gods can't detect the thieves who steal from their own temples, it's hardly likely they'll tell me who stole my spade.”

“Do not tell others how to act unless you can set a good example.”

“Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.”

“The quarrels of friends are the opportunities of foes.”

“A man who looks to his friends for help will take his time about a thing.”

“In union, there is strength.”

“Little friends may prove great friends.”

“You will only injure yourself if you take notice of despicable enemies.”

“Better no rule than cruel rule.”

“The Boys and the Frogs SOME BOYS, playing near a pond, saw a number of Frogs in the water and began to pelt them with stones. They killed several of them, when one of the Frogs, lifting his head out of the water, cried out: "Pray stop, my boys: what is sport to you, is death to us.”

“The Fawn and His Mother A YOUNG FAWN once said to his Mother, "You are larger than a dog, and swifter, and more used to running, and you have your horns as a defense; why, then, O Mother! do the hounds frighten you so?" She smiled, and said: "I know full well, my son, that all you say is true. I have the advantages you mention, but when I hear even the bark of a single dog I feel ready to faint, and fly away as fast as I can." No arguments will give courage to the coward.”

“It is wise to turn circumstances to good account.”

“The Sun is bad enough even while he is single, drying up our marshes with his heat as he does. But what will become of us if he marries and and begets other suns?”

“Do not waste your pity on a scamp.”

“There can be no good fable with human beings in it. There can be no good fairy tale without them.”