# The Fox and the Hedgehog explained — Aesop's Fables

> Chapter companion for Aesop's Fables by Aesop.

## What happens

A Fox, exhausted after being swept away by a river, lies helpless as horseflies feed on him. A Hedgehog offers to drive the flies away, but the Fox refuses, explaining that the satiated flies take little blood now, whereas new hungry ones would drain him completely.

## Themes in this chapter

### Wisdom and Foolishness

The Fox demonstrates wisdom by recognizing that removing the current flies would invite a worse fate, illustrating the value of accepting a lesser evil.

### Cunning and Deception

The Fox's clever reasoning to avoid the Hedgehog's well-meaning intervention shows a cunning understanding of his situation.

## Character check-ins

### The Fox

The Fox is swept away by a river, bruised and exhausted, and lies helpless as horseflies feed on him. He wisely refuses the Hedgehog's offer to remove the flies.

### The Hedgehog

The Hedgehog sees the Fox's plight and offers to brush away the tormenting flies, but is stopped by the Fox's reasoning.

## Key lines

> A Fox, in swimming across a rapid river, was swept away by the current and carried a long way downstream in spite of his struggles, until at last, bruised and exhausted, he managed to scramble on to dry ground from a backwater.

A Fox tried to swim across a fast river but was carried far downstream by the current. Despite his efforts, he ended up bruised and exhausted, finally managing to crawl onto dry land from a calm pool.

_Describes the Fox's perilous journey and his weakened state._

> Oh, please, no, not on any account, for these flies have sucked their fill and are taking very little from me now; but, if you drive them off, another swarm of hungry ones will come and suck all the blood I have left, and leave me without a drop in my veins.

Please don't, because these flies are already full and barely bother me. If you chase them away, a new swarm of hungry flies will come and drain all my remaining blood.

_The Fox explains his reasoning for refusing help, highlighting a practical wisdom._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-fox-and-the-hedgehog
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