The Flies and the Honey-Pot
Traditional Fable by: Aesop
Source: Aesop's Fables
On a warm summer afternoon, a merchant left a pot of golden honey uncovered on his kitchen table. The sweet aroma drifted through the open window, carried by the breeze into the garden where a swarm of flies buzzed lazily among the flowers.
Drawn by the irresistible scent, the flies hurried inside and landed on the sticky surface of the honey. At first, they tasted just a little, savoring the sweetness. But soon, more and more flies joined in, crowding the pot and feasting greedily.
The honey was so delicious that the flies forgot all caution. They gorged themselves, pushing and shoving to get their fill. But as they ate, their feet and wings became coated in the thick, sticky honey. When they tried to fly away, they found they could not escape. One by one, the flies became trapped, unable to free themselves from the very thing that had tempted them.
As the last fly struggled, he realized too late that their greed had led them to ruin. The merchant returned to find the pot full of honey—and flies who had paid the price for their lack of self-control.
From that day on, the other flies in the garden remembered the lesson and learned to enjoy treats in moderation.
Moral: Too much indulgence can lead to ruin. Self-control is necessary to avoid disaster.
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