Aesop

The Thirsty Pigeon

Summary

This brief fable teaches a lesson about the perils of hasty decisions and the importance of discerning reality from illusion. The story follows a pigeon who, driven by extreme thirst, mistakes an image of water on a signboard for the real thing. In her rush to quench her thirst, she crashes into the signboard, injuring herself and becoming vulnerable. This leads to her capture by a bystander, highlighting how impulsive actions, especially those based on misconceptions, can lead to unfortunate consequences. The narrative serves as a reminder to pause and reflect before acting, particularly when under stress or urgency, to avoid unnecessary harm or trouble.

Read Online

A Pigeon, oppressed by excessive thirst, saw a goblet of water painted on a signboard. Not supposing it to be only a picture, she flew towards it with a loud whir and unwittingly dashed against the signboard, jarring herself terribly. Having broken her wings by the blow, she fell to the ground, and was caught by one of the bystanders.

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