Section 228
The Weasel and the Man explained simply
Aesop's Fables by Aesop
Original excerpt
Excerpt preview
A Man once caught a Weasel, which was always sneaking about the house, and was just going to drown it in a tub of water, when it begged hard for its life, and said to him, "Surely you haven't the heart to put me to death? Think how useful I have been in clearing your house of...
Read full original text in reading mode
Public-domain original
A Man once caught a Weasel, which was always sneaking about the house,
and was just going to drown it in a tub of water, when it begged hard
for its life, and said to him, "Surely you haven't the heart to put me
to death? Think how useful I have been in clearing your house of the
mice and lizards which used to infest it, and show your gratitude by
sparing my life." "You have not been altogether useless, I grant you,"
said the Man: "but who killed the fowls? Who stole the meat? No, no!
You do much more harm than good, and die you shall."
Public-domain original text shown for study context.
What happens here
A short fable about The Weasel and The Man shows how choices, assumptions, or desires can lead to consequences.
Why this scene matters
This fable matters because it turns a common human habit into a short lesson about judgment and consequences.
Characters in this scene
- The Weasel: A figure in the fable whose choice helps reveal the lesson.
- The Man: A figure in the fable whose choice helps reveal the lesson.
Simple story version
In simple terms, The Weasel and The Man face a small situation that reveals a larger lesson about behavior and consequences.