Section 78
The Two Bags explained simply
Aesop's Fables by Aesop
Original excerpt
Excerpt preview
Every man carries Two Bags about with him, one in front and one behind, and both are packed full of faults. The Bag in front contains his neighbours' 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.
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Public-domain original
Every man carries Two Bags about with him, one in front and one
behind, and both are packed full of faults. The Bag in front contains
his neighbours' 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.
Public-domain original text shown for study context.
What happens here
Each person carries others’ faults in front and their own faults behind.
Why this scene matters
This fable explains why people see other people’s flaws more easily than their own.
Characters in this scene
- Two Bags: A central figure in the fable’s conflict and lesson.
Simple story version
People carry two bags of faults. The front bag shows others’ faults, while their own are hidden behind them.