The Fox and the Leopard
Story by: Aesop
Source: Aesop's Fables
A fox and a leopard were disputing about which of them was the more beautiful.
The leopard stretched luxuriously and displayed his magnificent spotted coat. “Look at my beautiful spots!” he boasted, turning so the sunlight caught each marking perfectly. “Have you ever seen anything so elegant? Each spot is perfectly placed, and my coat shines like gold in the sunlight. No creature in the forest can match my beauty.”
The fox listened patiently as the leopard continued to admire himself.
“Your coat is indeed striking,” the fox acknowledged. “Your spots are lovely to behold, and your fur gleams magnificently.”
The leopard preened with satisfaction at this praise.
“But,” continued the fox thoughtfully, “while your beauty is only skin deep, mine lies in my cunning mind and clever thinking. Your spots may catch the eye, but my wit has saved me from countless dangers and solved problems that would leave others helpless.”
The leopard paused in his posing, realizing the truth in the fox’s words.
“You see,” the fox explained, “your beautiful coat cannot help you escape a hunter’s trap or find food in winter. But my quick thinking and cleverness serve me well in every season and situation.”
The leopard, for all his beautiful spots, had no clever reply to offer.
Moral: True beauty comes from wisdom and intelligence, not just outward appearance. The mind is more valuable than physical beauty.
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