
Aesop's Fables
Androcles and the Lion
⏱ 2–4 min
On a bright summer day, an ant worked tirelessly, carrying grains of rice back to its anthill one by one to store for winter.
A grasshopper saw the ant working so hard and laughed. "Why work so much? Come play music with me instead!" And it went on singing and playing all day.
The ant replied, "I'm storing food for the winter. You should do the same." But the grasshopper paid no attention and kept singing and playing every day.
When winter came, snow covered everything and food was scarce. The grasshopper grew hungry and cold, with nothing stored away at all.
Hungry, the grasshopper went to the ant for help. The kind ant shared some of its stored food, and the grasshopper finally learned how important it is to prepare ahead.
It's better to work hard and prepare ahead than to play today and suffer tomorrow.
An ant works hard all summer storing food, while a grasshopper plays and sings — until winter arrives and food runs out.
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