The Hare was once boasting of his speed before the
other animals. ‘I have never yet been beaten,’ said he,
‘when I put forth my full speed. I challenge any one here
to race with me.’
The Tortoise said quietly, ‘I accept your challenge.’
‘That is a good joke,’ said the Hare; ‘I could dance
round you all the way.’
‘Keep your boasting till you’ve beaten,’ answered the
Tortoise. ‘Shall we race?’
So a course was fixed and a start was made. The Hare
darted almost out of sight at once, but soon stopped and,
to show his contempt for the Tortoise, lay down to have a
nap. The Tortoise plodded on and plodded on, and when
the Hare awoke from his nap, he saw the Tortoise just
near the winning-post and could not run up in time to
save the race.
Moral Lesson: ‘Plodding wins the race.’
―
Aesop
