The Young Goat and The Wolf
A playful young goat on a barn roof mocks a wolf, but realizes it's easy to be brave from a safe place.
Once upon a time, in a quiet little village, there was a young goat. This goat, being playful and adventurous, had found a way to climb onto the roof of a tall barn. From up there, he could see the whole village and beyond, and he felt very important.
One day, he spotted a wolf walking beneath him. Seeing the wolf from such a great height gave the young goat a burst of courage. He began to shout down at the wolf, calling him all sorts of silly and rude names. He thought this was very brave of him because wolves were usually scary creatures.
The wolf, hearing the young goat's loud words, looked up. He didn't get angry or show his teeth. Instead, he just smiled and spoke in a calm voice. "Young one, don't feel too proud of yourself for saying mean things to me. I know you're only doing it because you're safe up there. Those harsh words aren't coming from you, they're coming from your safe place."
With that, the wolf walked away, leaving the young goat thinking about what he'd said. As the young goat sat there on the roof, he started to understand what the wolf had meant. He realized that it was easy to be brave and say mean things when he was safe and high above danger.
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Reflection Questions
- Why do you think the young goat felt brave when he was high up on the barn roof?
- How did the goat's behavior change when he felt safe and far from danger?
- Can you remember a time when you felt braver because you were in a safe place or with someone you trust?
- What do you think the wolf meant when he said, "Those harsh words aren't coming from you, they're coming from your safe place?"
- How can we apply the lesson from this story to treat others kindly, regardless of our situation or feeling of safety?
Fable Quotes
True bravery is not about hurting others from a safe place, but about facing fears honestly.
Humility comes from knowing we are brave, not from showing it off.
Empathy is seeing through others' eyes, not from high above.
Just One More Fable
- Appreciation
- Gratitude
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A beautiful Swan with golden feathers helps a poor family, but their greed leads to the loss of his feathers and their friendship.
- Equality
- Understanding
The Two Dogs
Hunting Dog confronts rewarded Guard Dog, who blames their master for not training him to work for sustenance.
- Pride
- Consequences
The Fox and The Crow
The cunning fox uses flattering words to trick a proud crow into dropping its cheese, which the fox then steals.
- Forgiveness
- Honesty
The Stolen Necklace
A kind and wise woman wrongly accused of theft is proven innocent when the king discovers a magpie took the queen's necklace.