The Wise Turtle

Once upon a time, in a deep jungle, there lived a wise old turtle. He was known for his wisdom and intelligence, and all the animals of the jungle respected him. One day, a group of young animals gathered around the wise turtle and asked him to share his wisdom with them.
The turtle agreed and began to tell them a story. He said, “Once upon a time, there was a young and ambitious rabbit who always boasted about his speed and agility. He was so proud of his abilities that he challenged all the animals in the jungle to a race.”
“The other animals were hesitant at first, but then they decided to accept the rabbit’s challenge. The race was set, and all the animals gathered to watch. The rabbit took off as fast as he could, leaving all the other animals behind. He was so confident that he stopped to rest midway through the race.”
“However, as he rested, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching. To his surprise, he saw the wise old turtle slowly making his way towards the finish line. The rabbit laughed at the turtle, thinking he was no match for his speed. But to his surprise, the turtle crossed the finish line before him.”
The young animals were amazed by the story and asked the wise turtle how he managed to win the race. The turtle replied, “It’s not always about speed and agility. Sometimes, it’s about being steady and consistent. The rabbit was too confident in his abilities and underestimated the turtle. But the turtle knew his strengths and used them to his advantage.”
The young animals learned an important lesson that day, and they all respected the wise turtle even more. From that day on, they looked up to him for guidance and advice. And the wise turtle continued to share his wisdom with anyone who was willing to listen.

Moral

1. Slow and steady wins the race: The story teaches us that rushing through things may not always be the best approach. It is better to take our time and do things carefully and thoughtfully.
2. Intelligence is more important than physical strength: The hare was faster and stronger than the turtle, but he lost the race because he lacked intelligence and strategy. The story shows us that intelligence and wit can be more valuable than physical strength.
3. Overconfidence can lead to failure: The hare was overconfident and assumed that he would win the race easily, which led to his downfall. The story reminds us that it is important to be humble and not take anything for granted.
4. Honesty is the best policy: The turtle could have cheated and taken a shortcut to win the race, but he chose to be honest and follow the rules. The story teaches us that honesty is always the best policy, even if it means losing.
5. Don’t judge a book by its cover: The turtle appeared slow and weak, but he had a lot of intelligence and strategy. The story shows us that we should not judge people based on their appearance or initial impressions.

Origin of the Story: Nigeria