Aesop

The Blind Man and the Whelp

Summary

This short story conveys a moral lesson through the encounter of a blind man and a young wolf. The blind man, accustomed to identifying animals by touch, is asked to determine the creature he is given. Despite his inability to see and slight uncertainty over whether it's a young fox or wolf, he concludes that allowing it into a sheepfold would be unwise. The story highlights themes of intuition and caution, suggesting that recognizing potential danger often requires understanding beyond physical sight. This can serve as a teaching tool to discuss trust, instincts, and the importance of being aware of possible threats in different scenarios.

Read Online

A Blind Man was accustomed to distinguishing different animals by touching them with his hands. The whelp of a Wolf was brought him, with a request that he would feel it, and say what it was. He felt it, and being in doubt, said: “I do not quite know whether it is the cub of a Fox, or the whelp of a Wolf, but this I know full well. It would not be safe to admit him to the sheepfold.”

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