Aesop Quotes About Fables, Kindness, Gratitude

Aesop was a Greek fabulist and storyteller credited with a number of fables now collectively known as Aesop’s Fables. Although his existence remains unclear and no writings by him survive, numerous tales credited to him were gathered across the centuries and in many languages in a storytelling tradition that continues to this day. Many of the tales are characterized by animals and inanimate objects that speak, solve problems and generally have human characteristics. These Aesop quotes will motivate you in life to achieve success.

Best Aesop Quotes

1. “We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.” ~ Aesop
2. “The desire for imaginary benefits often involves the loss of present blessings.” ~ Aesop
3. “Our mere anticipations of life outrun its realities.” ~ Aesop
4. “Never trust the advice of a man in difficulties.” ~ Aesop

5. “Once a wolf, always a wolf.” ~ Aesop

6. “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
7. “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.” ~ Aesop

8. “One story sounds good until another is told” ~ Aesop

9. “Those who voluntarily put power into the hands of a tyrant … must not wonder if it be at last turned against themselves.” ~ Aesop
10. “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” ~ Aesop, Aesop quotes on kindness
11. “Men often applaud an imitation and hiss the real thing.” ~ Aesop
12. “The smaller the mind the greater the conceit.” ~ Aesop
13. “Fine clothes may disguise, but silly words will disclose a fool” ~ Aesop
14. “Liars often set their own traps.” ~ Aesop
15. “The unhappy derive comfort from the misfortunes of others.” ~ Aesop

16. “Better be wise by the misfortunes of others than by your own.” ~ Aesop

17. “Every truth has two sides; it is as well to look at both before we commit ourselves to either.” ~ Aesop
18. “If you can’t say anything nice, then don’t say anything at all.” ~ Aesop
19. “An oak and a reed were arguing about their strength. When a strong wind came up, the reed avoided being uprooted by bending and leaning with the gusts of wind. But the oak stood firm and was torn up by the roots.” ~ Aesop
20. “Don’t neglect the future in times of plenty, for tomorrow you may need what you wasted today.” ~ Aesop
21. “Betray a friend, and you’ll often find you have ruined yourself.” ~ Aesop
22. “Great determination can overcome most odds.” ~ Aesop
23. “Notoriety is often mistaken for fame.” ~ Aesop

24. “Adversity tests the sincerity of friends” ~ Aesop

25. “Those who cry the loudest are not always the ones who are hurt the most” ~ Aesop
26. “A wild boar was sharpening his tusks upon the trunk of a tree in the forest when a fox came by and asked, Why are you doing that, pray? The huntsmen are not out today and there are no other dangers at hand that I can see. True, my friend, replied the Boar, but the instant my life is in danger, I shall need to use my tusks. There will be no time to sharpen them then.” ~ Aesop
27. “In a crisis, give help first and then advice.” ~ Aesop
28. “What a splendid head, yet no brain.” ~ Aesop
29. “He that is hard to please, may get nothing in the end.” ~ Aesop
30. “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

31. “Better to starve free than be a fat slave” ~ Aesop

32. “The greatest kindness will not bind the ungrateful.” ~ Aesop
33. “It is easy to be brave from a safe distance.” ~ Aesop
34. “Bad as any government may be, it is seldom worse than anarchy.” ~ Aesop
35. “He that always gives way to others will end in having no principles of his own.” ~ Aesop
36. “You can fool people some of the time, but you can’t fool them all of the time.” ~ Aesop

37. “To be well prepared for war is the best guarantee of peace.” ~ Aesop

38. “In serving the wicked, expect no reward, and be thankful if you escape injury for your pains.” ~ Aesop
39. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” ~ Aesop
40. “Destroy the seed of evil, or it will grow up to your ruin.” ~ Aesop
41. “Always stop to think whether your fun may be the cause of another’s unhappiness” ~ Aesop
42. “Kindness is more persuasive than force.” ~ Aesop
43. “Outside show is a poor substitute for inner worth.” ~ Aesop
44. “It is one thing to conceive a good plan, and another to execute it” ~ Aesop

45. “Please all, and you will please none.” ~ Aesop

46. “The more you want, the more you stand to lose” ~ Aesop
47. “All men are more concerned to recover what they lose than to acquire what they lack.” ~ Aesop
48. “It is possible to have too much of a good thing.” ~ Aesop
49. “Injuries may be forgiven, but not forgotten.” ~ Aesop
50. “The level of our success is limited only by our imagination and no act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.” ~ Aesop
51. “The grateful heart will always find opportunities to show its gratitude.” ~ Aesop, Aesop quotes on gratitude

52. “Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.” ~ Aesop

53. “I will have nought to do with a man who can blow hot and cold with the same breath.” ~ Aesop
54. “In union there is strength.” ~ Aesop, Aesop quotes on unity
55. “Don’t let your special character and values, the secret that you know and no one else does, the truth – don’t let that get swallowed up by the great chewing complacency.” ~ Aesop
56. “Sometimes the slow ones blame the active for the delay.” ~ Aesop
57. “Beware of a wolf in sheep’s clothing.” ~ Aesop

58. “Be satisfied with what you have.” ~ Aesop

59. “Don’t make much ado about nothing.” ~ Aesop
60. “He who incites to strife is worse than he who takes part in it.” ~ Aesop
61. “Do nothing without regard to the consequences.” ~ Aesop
62. “Men often bear little grievances with less courage than they do large misfortunes.” ~ Aesop
63. “He who shares the danger ought to share the prize.” ~ Aesop
64. “If words suffice not, blows must follow.” ~ Aesop
65. “We should find out as much as possible about someone before coming into conflict with him.” ~ Aesop

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