By Aesop

«Why in the world do you walk sideways like that?» said a Mother Crab to her son. «You should always walk straight forward with your toes turned out.»

«Show me how to walk, mother dear,» answered the little Crab obediently, «I want to learn.»

So the old Crab tried and tried to walk straight forward. But she could walk sideways only, like her son. And when she wanted to turn her toes out she tripped and fell on her nose.

Do not tell others how to act unless you can set a good example.

Moral of the Story

The moral of the story «The Young Crab and His Mother» by Aesop teaches children the importance of leading by example. In the story, a mother crab reprimands her young for walking sideways, suggesting that he should walk forward instead. When the young crab asks if he can see how to do it, the mother tries but finds she can only walk sideways herself. This highlights that before we criticize others, we should make sure we ourselves are setting a good example. It’s a simple yet powerful reminder that actions speak louder than words, and we should practice what we preach.

A Summary of story «The Young Crab and His Mother»

«The Young Crab and His Mother» is a short fable by Aesop that teaches a valuable lesson through the interaction between a young crab and his mother. Here’s how the story goes:

One day, a young crab and his mother were walking along the shore. The mother noticed that her son was walking sideways, a common trait for crabs, but she thought he should try a different way. She said to him, «Why do you walk sideways like that? You should always walk straight forward with your toes pointed straight ahead.»

The young crab, feeling a bit puzzled, replied, «Show me the way, Mother dear. I want to learn! Can you walk straight so I can see how it’s done?»

The mother crab tried to walk straight ahead, but she could only walk sideways like all crabs. Realizing her mistake, she understood that she was asking her son to do something she couldn’t do herself.

The fable ends with the lesson that before we try to correct others, we should first see if we are doing what we ask of others. It’s a gentle reminder of the importance of leading by example, especially for those in positions of guidance or authority.

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