Introduction
Fables have always been a good medium to learn some important lessons in a straightforward and easy to remember manner. A single story, The Donkey in the Lion Skin, is a story that can teach us to avoid the pitfalls of posing as another creature. It is a short story but its lesson has significant value and permanence. In this blog, the entire narrative of the story of the Donkey in the Lion Skin will be read, its meaning will be discussed, and the moral lesson obtained.
Many years ago in a small and sleepy village was the home of a donkey.This donkey was very proud of himself, though he was neither a strong nor a fast one.He spent his days strolling around the village, feeling proud of his small achievement and imagining himself as someone of great importance.
The Story
One day as he walked through the forest near his home, the donkey saw something that was not normal lying on the ground. It was the skin of a lion--gold, grand and fearsome to behold. The bright idea was shining in the donkey's eyes.
Wearing this lion's skin, he said to himself, everyone in the village will believe that I am a lion in person. He/she will respect me, fear me, and I will be able to get everything I have ever wanted without much effort!
Happy with the thought, the donkey carefully took his time putting on the lion’s hide. He stared at himself in a pond, a small one and was proud of himself. It was the first time when he pictured himself as the king of all the animals in the village.
The donkey, dressed in a lion’s covering, stepped into the village, feeling overly important. The animals all stood paralyzed with at first. Goats ceased to graze, rabbits cowered in the bushes, dogs yanked at the ground with fright, and even some more terrifying creatures fled. The donkey felt delighted. He paraded and swiveled around the respect and attention that he had always dreamed of.
But the donkey did not remember one very important thing: he would always be dressed as a donkey, but would always be a donkey. A simple skin was not enough to conceal his real nature. He was so excited and proud that he could not hold back.
As he trotted along the village he burst forth at one moment with resounding braying--the braying of a donkey. The animals at once knew him. They perceived that the lion had been only a silly donkey in masquerade.
The village burst out in laughter. Goats bleated, rabbits ran about and even other animals ridiculed him because he was trying to be what he was not. The donkey returned ashamed and embarrassed to the forest, got rid of the lion skin and never again attempted such a caprice.
Moral of the Story
The moral of the parable of The Donkey in the Lion Skin is everlasting:
Faking identity can get you short-lived success however it will eventually come out the truth.
This fable highlights several important points:
Being truthful over facework: It is not worth pretending to be what you are not.
Humbleness: Pride and arrogance may make one embarrassed.
Self-awareness: be aware of what you can and cannot do, and be what you are good at doing.
Life Lessons We Can Learn
The lessons, albeit being a simple story, are very relevant to our daily life:
Be yourself: In school, work or social life, it can eventuate that by posing as another person you are not, you will be found out and it may work against you. Real individuals are respected and trusted.
Falsehoods never work in the long run: just as the donkey in the lions skin, falsehoods can apparently win the day, but they cannot endure.
Self-respect is important: To impress others you should not lie and ruin your image.
The realization of your nature: The understanding of your skills and weakness will enable you to come up with better judgments and prevent embarrassment.
Modern Application
The moral of this story is more than ever in the present day world. Social media, i.e. is full of people trying to be what they are not. Though they can attract a momentary attention, sooner or later the truth comes out. As with the donkey, one should not judge a book by its cover, but always integrity and authenticity prevail in the end.
Conclusion
The Donkey in the Lion Skin is one of the ancient fables that should teach us that faking it and trying to be what we are not, can cost us our dignity and respect. It trains us on the importance of honesty, humility and self awareness. The next time you are tempted to flaunt or even flake, think of what the donkey taught you.
it is much better to be yourself, rather than fake someone you are not.
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