Aesop | Greece
The Horse and The Groom
A dedicated groom cared for a horse's appearance but neglected its nourishment until the horse urged him to prioritize feeding over grooming.
Once upon a time, there was a Groom who took care of a Horse. Day in and day out, he would brush the Horse's coat until it shone. He would clean the Horse's hooves until they sparkled. He always made sure the Horse looked its very best.
At the same time, the Groom was taking the Horse's oats. Instead of giving them to the Horse to eat, he sold the oats to others for his own gain.
One day, the Horse looked at the Groom and said, "It's wonderful that you make me look so good. But if you truly want me to be healthy and strong, you should spend less time brushing me and more time feeding me." The horse understood that a shiny coat and clean hooves were nice, but they couldn't satisfy its hunger.
