Aesop's Fables · Chapter
The Fox and the Goat explained
A Fox falls into a well and cannot escape.
What happens
A Fox falls into a well and cannot escape. When a thirsty Goat arrives, the Fox tricks him into jumping down by praising the water. After the Goat drinks, the Fox uses the Goat's back and horns to climb out, then abandons him, advising that one should look before leaping.
Themes in this chapter
Cunning and Deception
The Fox uses deceit to lure the Goat into the well and then to escape, leaving the Goat trapped.
Wisdom and Foolishness
The Goat's lack of foresight contrasts with the Fox's cunning, illustrating the folly of acting without thinking.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“If you had as much sense in your head as you have hair in your beard you wouldn’t have got into the well without making certain that you could get out again.”
If you were as smart as you are hairy, you would have checked if you could escape before jumping in.
The Fox's moral rebuke to the Goat, emphasizing the need for caution.
“Look before your leap.”
Consider the consequences before acting.
The fable's concluding moral, directly advising prudence.