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The Hare and the Tortoise One had natural talent but no discipline, the other had discipline but no natural talent. Music: Muzio Clementi

© H. Zell, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0. Source

A tortoise, Kos, Greece.

About this picture …

A tortoise (testudo hermanni boettgeri) on the Greek island of Kos.

The Hare and the Tortoise

ONCE upon a time, the hare made fun of the tortoise for his horny feet. ‘I would still beat you in a race’ the tortoise replied, ‘fleet of foot though you be.’

‘Words, just words!’ laughed the hare. ‘But by all means put it to the test, and see for yourself.’

‘Who shall mark out the course, and crown the champion?’ inquired the hare, with a touch of complacency. ‘The fox’ suggested the tortoise. ‘She is fair, and very clever.’

The moment all was ready, the tortoise began his glacial progress down the track. The hare however, confident in his speed, settled down for a few minutes’ rest.

When he awoke with a start some time later, he leapt up and sped down the course like the east wind; but on reaching the finishing line, he found to his disgust that the tortoise was already there.

And the moral of that is, that less gifted but more disciplined people often come out on top.

Précis

Nettled by a hare’s banter, a tortoise suggested a race to see which was the faster. The hare was amused, but agreed, and gave the tortoise a generous head-start. But as he waited to stroll to victory, he fell asleep, and by the time he awoke the race was lost, going to show that natural talent is nothing without self-discipline. (60 / 60 words)

Source

Based on ‘The Hare and the Tortoise’ by Aesop, as given by Chambry.

Suggested Music

Sonata in B flat major, Op. 24 No. 2

3: Rondo - Allegro assai

Muzio Clementi (1752-1832)

Played by Zenan Kwan.

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