Fables have been around as long as man.  It’s amazing how it has survived through time.  Aesop has written some great stories that teach lessons to the young and old.  He was born in 620 BC, a slave but was released by his owner for his wisdom.  None of his writings survived however many fables attributed to him were gathered and kept in writing through the centuries,  in many languages that continue to this day.  Many of his stories are spoken through animals, a code for truth.  Eventually he was condemned to death in 560 BC.  My favorite has to be ‘The Fox and the Grapes’.  I picture this tired fox jumping all day for the juicy grapes that hang on the vines, to no avail. Tiresome, he retreats with a famous line “Ah, they were probably sour anyway”.   Its easy to despise what you cannot get.  Another fable, ‘The Lion and the Goat’ is a great lesson to us all.  Especially to all the conflicts going on in the world.  The lion and goat thirsty, approach a fountain of water at the same time.  Arguing has not settled who will drink from the fountain first so they break from their tiresome fighting.  As they sit for a moment, they notice vulture’s ready to eat whoever perishes.  They immediately settle their quarrel and decide it’s better to become friends than to become a meal for these vulture’s.