The River Fish and The Sea Fish
A river fish boasted about his superiority to sea fish, but in the end, it was their market value that determined their worth.
Once there was a big River Fish. He became large and strong by swimming in the calm waters of his river. But one day, a strong current pulled him away, and soon he found himself in the wide, open sea.
In the sea, he saw many different types of fish. They were all sea fish, and they looked nothing like him. Feeling proud of his river home, he puffed out his chest and said, "I come from a great river. I am strong and mighty, not like you sea fish."
His words spread through the water, and a small Sea Fish heard him. The Sea Fish listened and said, "You think you're special, don't you?"
But the River Fish just laughed and didn’t care about the small fish.
One day, both the River Fish and the Sea Fish were caught in a fisherman's net. The fisherman looked at the two fish. He smiled when he saw the small Sea Fish and placed it carefully in a special basket.
When he saw the large River Fish, he just threw it onto a big pile with other river fish. The Sea Fish, however, was placed in a basket with other fine Sea Fish, chosen for special meals.
As they were taken away, the Sea Fish looked at the River Fish and said, "You see, it’s not about where you come from or how big you are. It’s about what people think you’re worth."
Audio available for B1 version
Once there was a big River Fish.
He became large and strong by swimming in the calm waters of his river.
But one day, a strong current pulled him away, and soon he found himself in the wide, open sea.
In the sea, he saw many different types of fish.
They were all sea fish, and they looked nothing like him.
Feeling proud of his river home, he puffed out his chest and said, "I come from a great river.
I am strong and mighty, not like you sea fish."
His words spread through the water, and a small Sea Fish heard him.
The Sea Fish listened and said, "You think you're special, don't you?"
But the River Fish just laughed and didn’t care about the small fish.
One day, both the River Fish and the Sea Fish were caught in a fisherman's net.
The fisherman looked at the two fish.
He smiled when he saw the small Sea Fish and placed it carefully in a special basket.
When he saw the large River Fish, he just threw it onto a big pile with other river fish.
The Sea Fish, however, was placed in a basket with other fine Sea Fish, chosen for special meals.
As they were taken away, the Sea Fish looked at the River Fish and said, "You see, it’s not about where you come from or how big you are.
It’s about what people think you’re worth."
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Word Finder
Current:
A strong flow of water or air.Puffed:
Breathed in and made your chest bigger.Mighty:
Strong and powerful, very big.Spread:
To move or send something over a wide area.Special:
Different and important in a good way.Fisherman:
A person who catches fish.Basket:
A container made from woven material.Pile:
A big stack of things on top of each other.Chosen:
Picked out from others because of importance.Worth:
The value of something, how important it is.
Understanding Questions
- What happened to the River Fish when a strong current came?
- Where did the River Fish find himself after the current pulled him?
- What did the River Fish say to show he was proud of where he came from?
- How did the fisherman treat the Sea Fish differently from the River Fish?
- What lesson did the Sea Fish share with the River Fish at the end of the story?
Reflection Questions
- Why do you think the River Fish boasted about his origins to the Sea Fish?
- How do you think the River Fish felt when the fisherman chose the Sea Fish over him?
- Can you recall a time when you realized that someone's value was not determined by where they came from or how they looked?
- What does this story tell us about the importance of humility and not judging others based on appearances or origins?
- How can we apply the lesson from this story in our interactions with people who are different from us?
Fable Quotes
Humility softens the tides of arrogance and teaches us to swim in harmony.
Value isn't determined by one's surroundings, but by their inherent worth.
In the end, true worth is found not in origin or strength, but in the appreciation we receive.
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