Aesop was a Greek fabulist and storyteller credited with a number of fables now collectively known as Aesop’s Fables. Although his existence remains unclear and no writings by him survive, numerous tales credited to him were gathered across the centuries and in many languages in a storytelling tradition that continues to this day. Many of the tales are characterized by animals and inanimate objects that speak, solve problems and generally have human characteristics. These Aesop quotes will motivate you in life to achieve success.
Best Aesop Quotes
- “We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.” ~ Aesop
- “The desire for imaginary benefits often involves the loss of present blessings.” ~ Aesop
- “Our mere anticipations of life outrun its realities.” ~ Aesop
- “Never trust the advice of a man in difficulties.” ~ Aesop
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“Once a wolf, always a wolf.” ~ Aesop
- “A farmer who had a quarrelsome family called his sons and told them to lay a bunch of sticks before him. Then, after laying the sticks parallel to one another and binding them, he challenged his sons, one after one, to pick up the bundle and break it. They all tried, but in vain. Then, untying the bundle, he gave them the sticks to break one by one. This they did with the greatest ease. Then said the father, “Thus, my sons, as long as you remain united, you are a match for anything, but differ and separate, and you are undone”.” ~ Aesop
- “Every man carries two bags about him, one in front and one behind, and both are full of faults. The bag in front contains his neighbors’ 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.” ~ Aesop
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“One story sounds good until another is told” ~ Aesop
- “Those who voluntarily put power into the hands of a tyrant … must not wonder if it be at last turned against themselves.” ~ Aesop
- “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” ~ Aesop, Aesop quotes on kindness
- “Men often applaud an imitation and hiss the real thing.” ~ Aesop
- “The smaller the mind the greater the conceit.” ~ Aesop
- “Fine clothes may disguise, but silly words will disclose a fool” ~ Aesop
- “Liars often set their own traps.” ~ Aesop
- “The unhappy derive comfort from the misfortunes of others.” ~ Aesop
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“Better be wise by the misfortunes of others than by your own.” ~ Aesop
- “Every truth has two sides; it is as well to look at both before we commit ourselves to either.” ~ Aesop
- “If you can’t say anything nice, then don’t say anything at all.” ~ Aesop
- “An oak and a reed were arguing about their strength. When a strong wind came up, the reed avoided being uprooted by bending and leaning with the gusts of wind. But the oak stood firm and was torn up by the roots.” ~ Aesop
- “Don’t neglect the future in times of plenty, for tomorrow you may need what you wasted today.” ~ Aesop
- “Betray a friend, and you’ll often find you have ruined yourself.” ~ Aesop
- “Great determination can overcome most odds.” ~ Aesop
- “Notoriety is often mistaken for fame.” ~ Aesop
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“Adversity tests the sincerity of friends” ~ Aesop
- “Those who cry the loudest are not always the ones who are hurt the most” ~ Aesop
- “A wild boar was sharpening his tusks upon the trunk of a tree in the forest when a fox came by and asked, Why are you doing that, pray? The huntsmen are not out today and there are no other dangers at hand that I can see. True, my friend, replied the Boar, but the instant my life is in danger, I shall need to use my tusks. There will be no time to sharpen them then.” ~ Aesop
- “In a crisis, give help first and then advice.” ~ Aesop
- “What a splendid head, yet no brain.” ~ Aesop
- “He that is hard to please, may get nothing in the end.” ~ Aesop
- “A doubtful friend is worse than a certain enemy. Let a man be one thing or the other, and we then know how to meet him.” ~ Aesop
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“Better to starve free than be a fat slave” ~ Aesop
- “The greatest kindness will not bind the ungrateful.” ~ Aesop
- “It is easy to be brave from a safe distance.” ~ Aesop
- “Bad as any government may be, it is seldom worse than anarchy.” ~ Aesop
- “He that always gives way to others will end in having no principles of his own.” ~ Aesop
- “You can fool people some of the time, but you can’t fool them all of the time.” ~ Aesop
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“To be well prepared for war is the best guarantee of peace.” ~ Aesop
- “In serving the wicked, expect no reward, and be thankful if you escape injury for your pains.” ~ Aesop
- “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” ~ Aesop
- “Destroy the seed of evil, or it will grow up to your ruin.” ~ Aesop
- “Always stop to think whether your fun may be the cause of another’s unhappiness” ~ Aesop
- “Kindness is more persuasive than force.” ~ Aesop
- “Outside show is a poor substitute for inner worth.” ~ Aesop
- “It is one thing to conceive a good plan, and another to execute it” ~ Aesop
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“Please all, and you will please none.” ~ Aesop
- “The more you want, the more you stand to lose” ~ Aesop
- “All men are more concerned to recover what they lose than to acquire what they lack.” ~ Aesop
- “It is possible to have too much of a good thing.” ~ Aesop
- “Injuries may be forgiven, but not forgotten.” ~ Aesop
- “The level of our success is limited only by our imagination and no act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.” ~ Aesop
- “The grateful heart will always find opportunities to show its gratitude.” ~ Aesop, Aesop quotes on gratitude
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“Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.” ~ Aesop
- “I will have nought to do with a man who can blow hot and cold with the same breath.” ~ Aesop
- “In union there is strength.” ~ Aesop, Aesop quotes on unity
- “Don’t let your special character and values, the secret that you know and no one else does, the truth – don’t let that get swallowed up by the great chewing complacency.” ~ Aesop
- “Sometimes the slow ones blame the active for the delay.” ~ Aesop
- “Beware of a wolf in sheep’s clothing.” ~ Aesop
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“Be satisfied with what you have.” ~ Aesop
- “Don’t make much ado about nothing.” ~ Aesop
- “He who incites to strife is worse than he who takes part in it.” ~ Aesop
- “Do nothing without regard to the consequences.” ~ Aesop
- “Men often bear little grievances with less courage than they do large misfortunes.” ~ Aesop
- “He who shares the danger ought to share the prize.” ~ Aesop
- “If words suffice not, blows must follow.” ~ Aesop
- “We should find out as much as possible about someone before coming into conflict with him.” ~ Aesop
