Two stubborn goats refuse to make way for each other on a narrow bridge, leading to a disastrous fall.
Two proud goats meet on a narrow log bridge over a deep chasm. Neither is willing to step aside for the other. Their stubbornness leads to a clash mid-stream, causing both to fall into the torrent below, teaching a harsh lesson about the value of yielding.
Author: Aesop
Themes: stubbornness, conflict resolution, consequences, pride
Two Goats, frisking gayly on the rocky steeps of a mountain valley, chanced to meet, one on each side of a deep chasm through which poured a mighty mountain torrent. The trunk of a fallen tree formed the only means of crossing the chasm, and on this not even two squirrels could have passed each other in safety.
The narrow path would have made the bravest tremble. Not so our Goats. Their pride would not permit either to stand aside for the other.
One set her foot on the log. The other did likewise. In the middle they met horn to horn.
Neither would give way, and so they both fell, to be swept away by the roaring torrent below.
It is better to yield than to come to misfortune through stubbornness.
Introduction
The Two Goats is a timeless fable by Aesop that vividly illustrates the dangers of stubbornness and pride. Through the simple yet dramatic encounter of two goats on a narrow bridge, children learn that unwillingness to compromise can lead to mutual downfall.
About Aesop
Aesop is famous for his fables, which are short tales that teach a moral lesson, often using animals with human characteristics.
Moral of the Story
The moral of this story is explicit: 'It is better to yield than to come to misfortune through stubbornness.' It teaches that compromise is often a strength, not a weakness.
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The Two Goats
The Two Goats is a timeless fable by Aesop that vividly illustrates the dangers of stubbornness and pride. Through the simple yet dramatic encounter of two goats on a narrow bridge, children learn that unwillingness to compromise can lead to mutual downfall.
Origin of The Two Goats
This story is one of the classic Fables credited to Aesop, a slave and storyteller believed to have lived in ancient Greece between 620 and 564 BCE.
About Aesop
Aesop is famous for his fables, which are short tales that teach a moral lesson, often using animals with human characteristics.
Moral of the Story
The moral of this story is explicit: 'It is better to yield than to come to misfortune through stubbornness.' It teaches that compromise is often a strength, not a weakness.
Compromise
Humility
Wisdom
Activities
Discuss with children times when they had a disagreement. Ask how they resolved it and what might have happened if they hadn't compromised.
🎨Role-play the scene with a 'happy ending' where one goat lets the other pass.
💬Draw the mountain scene.
✨Draw a bridge that would be safe for two goats.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓What happens to the goats?
Both goats fall into the river because neither would move aside.
❓What is the lesson of The Two Goats?
The lesson is that being too stubborn can hurt you, and it is often smarter to yield.
❓What kind of bridge was it?
It was a simple fallen tree trunk across a deep chasm.
