# The Sheep, the Wolf, and the Stag explained — Aesop's Fables

> Chapter companion for Aesop's Fables by Aesop.

## What happens

A Stag asks a Sheep to lend him wheat with the Wolf as his surety, but the Sheep refuses, fearing that both would evade repayment due to their speed and the Wolf's habit of taking without paying.

## Themes in this chapter

### Cunning and Deception

The Stag and Wolf attempt to deceive the Sheep into lending wheat, but the Sheep sees through their scheme.

### Wisdom and Foolishness

The Sheep wisely refuses the loan, recognizing the risk posed by the untrustworthy borrowers.

## Character check-ins

### The Sheep

The cautious lender who refuses the request, citing the untrustworthiness of the Stag and the Wolf.

### The Wolf

Proposed as a surety but known for seizing what he wants and running off without paying.

### The Stag

The borrower who asks for wheat, relying on the Wolf as his guarantor.

## Key lines

> The Wolf is in the habit of seizing what he wants and running off with it without paying, and you, too, can run much faster than I.

The Wolf often takes things by force and escapes without payment, and you are also swifter than me.

_The Sheep explains her reasoning for refusing the loan, highlighting the untrustworthiness of both the Wolf and the Stag._

> Two blacks do not make a white.

Two wrongs do not make a right.

_The moral of the fable, emphasizing that combining dishonesties does not create honesty._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-sheep-the-wolf-and-the-stag
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se/chapters