Aesop

The Flea and the Wrestler

Summary

The provided story illustrates a humorous yet insightful scenario where a wrestler, known for his strength and reliance on a powerful figure like Hercules, finds himself troubled by a small and seemingly insignificant adversary: a flea. This narrative highlights the irony of the situation where the wrestler calls upon Hercules for help against the minuscule pest. His frustration grows as he questions how he can expect assistance from Hercules in facing larger enemies if even a flea is not vanquished. This tale serves as a commentary on the nature of relying on external help for small problems and suggests the value of personal resilience and the importance of addressing one's challenges, irrespective of their scale.

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A Flea settled upon the bare foot of a Wrestler and bit him, causing the man to call loudly upon Hercules for help. When the Flea a second time hopped upon his foot, he groaned and said, “O Hercules! if you will not help me against a Flea, how can I hope for your assistance against greater antagonists?”

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