The Mischievous Dog - Aesop's Fable with Moral Lesson

The Mischievous Dog

There lived a young dog that was very mischievous. He used to run up quietly and bite everyone without notice. Due to his biting habit, his master suspended a bell around his neck so that it could tell about his presence. Sometimes he also fastened a chain around his neck which was attached to a heavy clog. This enabled him not to be so quick at biting people's heels.

The dog thought that the bell and the clog were part of his beauty. So, he grew proud of his bell and clog. One day, an old dog said to him, "Why are you so proud of yourself? That bell and clog that you carry are on the contrary, marks of disgrace, a public notice to all men to avoid you as an ill-mannered dog."

Moral: Notoriety is not the same as fame. Gaining attention for the wrong reasons is not something to be proud of. Often, recognition that singles you out is a sign to change—not celebrate.

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