# The Fisherman Piping explained — Aesop's Fables

> Chapter companion for Aesop's Fables by Aesop.

## What happens

A fisherman who can play the flute tries to lure fish out of the sea with his music, but fails. He then uses his net to catch a large number of fish, and scolds them for not dancing when he piped, yet now they dance on the shore after being caught.

## Themes in this chapter

### Wisdom and Foolishness

The fisherman's foolish expectation that music would lure fish contrasts with the practical wisdom of using a net.

### Human Nature and Vice

The fisherman's scolding reflects human tendency to blame others for circumstances that are actually a result of one's own actions.

## Character check-ins

### The Fisherman

The fisherman tries to charm fish with his flute, then catches them with his net and scolds them for their behavior.

## Key lines

> You rascals! you wouldn’t dance when I piped: but now I’ve stopped, you can do nothing else!

You scoundrels! You wouldn't dance when I played my pipe, but now that I've stopped, you can't stop dancing.

_The fisherman's ironic complaint highlights the futility of his earlier approach._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-fisherman-piping
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se/chapters