Aesop | Greece
The Oxen and The Axles
Two diligent oxen pulling a wagon loaded with grain grow upset by the creaking wheels until they realize it's a shared burden."
In a quiet village, two strong oxen worked hard every day, pulling a heavy wagon full of grain from the fields. They were very good at their job and never complained.
One day, as they pulled the wagon, they heard a loud creaking noise coming from the wheels. It annoyed them, and they wondered why the wheels were making such a noise when they were working so quietly.
The oxen became upset and said, "Why are the wheels making noise? We are the ones doing all the hard work. They have an easier job!"
As the day went on under the hot sun, the weight of the wagon felt heavier. Tired and drained, the oxen finally understood. The wheels weren't complaining. The noise was just because of the heavy load they all carried.
The oxen realized that everyone, even the wheels, had their own burdens. Their anger turned to respect for the hardworking wheels. From that day on, the creaking noise became part of their shared work, and they understood each other better.
