Foreword:
This fable represents foolish over-confidence that was emphasized since the Classic Times, and much later interpreted to glorify the tortoise's win - making it wrongfully appear teaching ambiguous lesson. It is numbered 226 in the Perry Index (as 226. The Tortoise and the Hare), and also popular as 'The Hare and the Turtle'.
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Once, a hare and a tortoise lived near the same place.
The hare was, obviously, quick and swift, and would complete her chores in very little time. Thus, she had lots of time to play, have fun, and take rest.
On the other hand, the tortoise was slow and fearful.
Nevertheless, he was hardworking and duly attended to all his chores. To make up for his sluggish movement, he worked very hard all day. He could always been seen moving from one place to another, doing something or the other, at his own slow pace.
The tortoise, thus, hardly had any time to play or have fun. Due to this, other animals ridiculed him, especially the hare, who was always boasting of her own great speed.
Mocking and teasing the tortoise of his slow pace, was the hare's favourite passtime.
She jumped and played around him, often ran off to corners and back. And, she moved along with him immitating his movement, to mock a race of sorts.
Accustomed to such teasing, the tortoise kept his calm, and continued with his tasks.
"Can't you move any faster?", she would ask, and he would reply, "I don't have to. I get to where I want to, when I want to!"
"Do you ever get anywhere?", she would ask, and he would reply, "Yes! And, I get there sooner than you think!"
One day, he could not remain calm anymore, and, out of anger, challenged the hare to a race.
"You think you are so fast, that you can out-run me everytime", the tortoise shouted angrily at the hare, "Let us race, to find out!"
The hare laughed at such a possibility, "That is silly! You know very well, that I can beat you even when I am asleep."
However, the other animals, along with the hare, were amused at the idea of the hare racing the tortoise.
It was soon settled, and the challenge for a race was accepted.
An all-too-willing fox was invited to judge the race, the markers for start and finish were identified, and the race was scheduled for the next day.
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On the next day, a large number of animals had gathered to witness the event, and expected to be entertained.
The tortoise had, by now, already realized that he had committed a mistake of challenging the hare in a spur of moment, but had no way of backing out now.
In public view of such a large audience, the race was set, and started.
As expected, the hare ran off like a breeze, as soon as the race began, while the tortoise plodded behind.
Within moments, the hare took a huge lead and was running all alone, without her rival in sight.
After some time, she stopped to think, "What is the meaning of winning against someone as slow as the tortoise?", she said to herself, "Everybody will only laugh at me, if I took this race so seriously! I should wait for him to catch up and start again. It will be more fun!"
Absolutely certain of her win, she waited for him, and kept waiting for some time, but the tortoise was nowhere in sight.
She sat down to wait, and started feeling sleepy. Being over-confident of her winning the race, the hare decided to take a small nap, while the tortoise arrived. Soon, she fell asleep.
And, while she was sleeping, the tortoise arrived, watched her asleep, and quietly continued to plod along the race course.
Some more time passed, before the hare was woken up by the sound of claps and shouts coming from afar.
Still sleepy, it took her some time to realize that the tortoise had come, and was gone already, while she was deep in her sleep.
And, that she was woken by the claps and shouts of encouragement showered by the audience for the tortoise, who was already nearing the finishing mark.
She started running with all her might, all again, as fast as she could.
But it was too late, for her to make up for the lead, and catch up with the tortoise.
And, when she reached near the finishing mark, she was greeted with taunts and jeers from the huge audience that had turned up to witness the race.
To her horor, the race was already over.
Everybody were already congratulating the tortoise on his winning the race, with the fox having already declared him as the winner.
Many amongst the organizers were busy arranging for a huge presentation ceremony, to be followed up with a gala celebratory dinner.
The hare had no other alternative, than to accept defeat. And thus, the hare learnt how her own over-confidence disfavoured her.
Moral:
Slow and steady wins the race.
Or,
The race is not always to the swift.
Summary:
A hare always boasted about his swiftness and speed, and ridiculed a tortoise for being slow. In an ensuing argument, they decide to race. As the race begins, the hare obviously takes a huge lead. Over-confident of a win, the hare decides to rest, and falls asleep. The tortoise, however, keeps going slowly but steadily. While the hare is asleep, the tortoise overtakes the hare and reaches the finishing point. The hare wakes up to realize that the tortoise has won the race.
