# The Dog in the Manger explained — Aesop's Fables

> Chapter companion for Aesop's Fables by Aesop.

## What happens

A dog selfishly prevents cattle from eating hay in a manger, even though he himself cannot eat it, leading one of the cattle to condemn his behavior.

## Themes in this chapter

### Human Nature and Vice

The dog's selfishness and spite illustrate the vice of preventing others from enjoying what one cannot use oneself.

## Character check-ins

### The Dog

Lies in the manger and growls at the cattle, preventing them from eating the hay.

## Key lines

> What a selfish beast, he can't eat himself and yet he won't let those eat who can.

The dog is selfish because he denies others food he cannot consume himself.

_Highlights the moral of the fable about spiteful selfishness._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-dog-in-the-manger
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se/chapters