Know when to keep quiet. Speaking at the wrong time can destroy everything.

Is this story related to other folk tales?

Yes, variations appear in the Panchatantra, the Jataka tales, and even Aesop's fables under different titles.

What does the tortoise's fall symbolize?

It symbolizes how a single moment of lost self-control can undo careful planning and good intentions.

What is the origin of The Foolish Tortoise?

It originates from the Panchatantra of ancient India (circa 300 BCE), and spread through Buddhist traditions to Tibet, China, and Southeast Asia.

Is The Foolish Tortoise appropriate for children?

Yes, it is a popular children's tale that teaches self-control and the importance of following instructions.

Fables

The Foolish Tortoise

#Patience

#Silence

#Consequences

Available Variants

India, Asia

The Foolish Tortoise

Annotations Enabled

A Tortoise lived in a pond that was drying up. He asked two Geese to help him move to a larger lake. They agreed to carry a stick in their beaks and told the Tortoise to hold the middle in his mouth, warning him sternly not to speak.

As they flew over a village, people looked up and shouted, 'Look at that tortoise in the sky!' The Tortoise grew angry at their mockery. 'What business is it of yours?' he opened his mouth to say -- and plummeted to the ground, breaking his shell. He who cannot hold his tongue comes to grief.