It is easy to despise what you cannot get.

What psychological concept does this fable illustrate?

Cognitive dissonance -- the tendency to change one's attitude about something after failing to attain it.

Where does the phrase 'sour grapes' come from?

Directly from this Aesop fable, which has been in circulation for over 2,500 years and gave rise to the idiom used in dozens of languages.

What does the fox symbolize?

The fox represents the human tendency to protect one's ego by devaluing what is out of reach rather than accepting failure gracefully.

Why is The Fox and the Grapes still relevant today?

The fable describes a universal human behavior that occurs in relationships, careers, and competition -- dismissing what we cannot have as unworthy.

Fables

The Fox and the Grapes

#Rationalization

#Self-Deception

#Pride

Available Variants

Greece, Europe

The Fox and the Grapes

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One hot summer's day, a Fox was strolling through an orchard when he spotted a bunch of grapes ripening on a vine trained along a high branch. The grapes looked ready to burst with juice, and the Fox's mouth watered at the sight. Drawing back a few paces, he took a running jump and just missed.

He tried again and again, but each time he could not reach the grapes. At last he sat down, looked at the vine in disgust, and walked away. 'I am sure they are sour anyway,' he muttered. It is easy to despise what you cannot have.