Aesop's Fables · Chapter
The Boy and the Nettles explained
A boy is stung by a nettle while gathering berries and complains to his mother that he only touched it lightly.
What happens
A boy is stung by a nettle while gathering berries and complains to his mother that he only touched it lightly. She explains that firmness, not timidity, is the proper approach to a nettle.
Themes in this chapter
Wisdom and Foolishness
The mother's advice contrasts the boy's foolish, timid touch with the wisdom of a firm grasp.
Perseverance and Effort
The fable teaches that bold, decisive action can overcome a painful obstacle.
Characters to notice
- The Boy
Gathers berries, is stung by a nettle, and learns a lesson about firmness.
Key passages
“I only touched it ever so lightly, mother.”
I barely brushed against it, Mom.
The boy's complaint highlights his mistaken belief that gentleness should have spared him.
“if you had grasped it firmly, it wouldn’t have hurt you in the least.”
If you had grabbed it firmly, it wouldn't have hurt you at all.
The mother's response conveys the moral: boldness can neutralize a threat.