A fox falls into a well and cannot climb its straight stone walls. When a thirsty goat looks over the edge and asks about the water, the fox has his answer ready.
Once upon a time a fox fell into a well, and no matter how hard he tried, he could not get out again. The stone walls rose straight up all around him, and there was nothing to hold on to.
By and by a thirsty goat came along. He looked over the edge, saw the fox down below, and asked him whether the water was good.
“Good?” said the fox. “It’s the best water I’ve ever tasted. Come down and try it yourself.”
The goat thought of nothing but his thirst, and he jumped in at once. He drank and drank until he was full. Then, just as the fox had done, he looked around for a way to get out, but he couldn’t find one.
After a while the fox said, “I have an idea. You stand up on your hind legs and plant your front hooves firmly against the side of the well. I’ll climb onto your back, and from there I can step on your horns and get out. And once I’m out, I’ll pull you up after me.”
The goat did just as he was told. Up went the fox onto his back, from his back onto his horns, and from his horns over the rim and out of the well. Then he calmly walked away.
“Wait!” the goat called after him at the top of his voice. “You promised to help me out!”
The fox only turned and looked down at him. “If you had as much sense in your head as you have hair in your beard,” he said, “you would never have jumped into this well without making sure you could get out again.”
Retold by Talerie from Aesop’s Fables: a new translation (opens in a new window) Public domain Copy this text, adapt it, use it however you like. A link back to Talerie is appreciated but never required. CC0 1.0 (opens in a new window)