Aesop's Fables · Chapter
Hercules and the Wagoner explained
A wagoner whose wagon is stuck in the mud calls on Hercules for help.
What happens
A wagoner whose wagon is stuck in the mud calls on Hercules for help. Hercules appears and tells him that he must first help himself by putting his shoulder to the wheel and urging his horses on before expecting divine aid. The moral is that heaven helps those who help themselves.
Themes in this chapter
Perseverance and Effort
The moral emphasizes that personal effort is necessary before expecting external help.
Characters to notice
- Hercules
Appears to the wagoner and advises him to take action himself before seeking divine help.
- The Farmer
The wagoner who calls on Hercules but is told to first make his own effort.
Key passages
“Put your shoulder to the wheel, man, and goad on your horses, and then you may call on Hercules to assist you.”
Start pushing and urging your horses forward, and only then ask for my help.
Hercules instructs the wagoner to take action first.
“Heaven helps those who help themselves.”
The divine will assist those who make their own efforts.
The moral of the fable.