In life, we often get attracted to things that look shiny or beautiful on the outside, but not everything that glitters is valuable. The story of the Foolish Stag teaches us this important lesson. The stag made a terrible mistake by focusing on appearances, and it paid the price for ignoring what truly mattered.
As the famous writer William Shakespeare once said, “All that glisters is not gold.” This quote perfectly fits the message of this story—outward beauty or charm doesn’t always mean real worth.
Key Points of the Story:
- A beautiful stag admired its horns, thinking they were more important than its legs.
- When the stag was chased by hunters, its legs helped it run fast, but its horns got stuck in the bushes.
- In the end, the stag realized its mistake: what it thought was worthless (its legs) was actually the most important, and what it loved the most (its horns) led to its downfall.
Quotations for the Story All That Glitters is not Gold
Here are 10 quotes from famous people related to the idea “All That Glitters is Not Gold”:
- William Shakespeare – “All that glisters is not gold.”
- Aesop – “Appearances often deceive more than reality shows.”
- Socrates – “True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand.”
- Oscar Wilde – “A mask tells us more than a face.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson – “The greatest glory in life is simple and unnoticed.”
- Confucius – “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.”
- H.G. Wells – “Beauty is in the heart, not in appearances.”
- Plato – “The greatest wealth is to live content with little.”
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau – “What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?”
- Abraham Lincoln – “Character is like a tree, and reputation like its shadow.”
These quotes all emphasize the deeper values of wisdom, truth, and simplicity over outward appearances.
Read more Stories with Quotes:
- Grapes are Sour Story with Quotes
- A Rolling Stone Gathers no Moss
- Quotes for Thirsty Crow Story
- Sindhi Woman Explanation with Quotes
- Dove and the Bee Story
The Foolish Stag Story with Quotes
Once upon a time, in a dense forest, there lived a proud and beautiful stag. He spent his days admiring his reflection in the water of a nearby pond. The stag was particularly fond of his large, magnificent antlers, which curved gracefully on top of his head. However, he disliked his thin, spindly legs and often thought they made him look weak and ungraceful.
“All that glisters is not gold.” – William Shakespeare
One hot afternoon, while the stag was drinking water from the pond, he heard the sound of hunters approaching. Frightened, he immediately dashed into the forest, his legs carrying him swiftly through the thick trees and bushes. As he ran, he marveled at how fast his legs moved, allowing him to escape danger. For the first time, he realized how useful they were, despite his earlier disdain for them.
“Appearances often deceive more than reality shows.” – Aesop
Just as he began to feel safe, his beautiful antlers got caught in a low-hanging branch. The harder he tried to pull free, the more tangled his antlers became. Panic struck the stag as he could hear the hunters drawing closer. His strong legs, which had just saved him, were now useless because his prized antlers had trapped him.
“A mask tells us more than a face.” – Oscar Wilde
As the hunters approached, the stag frantically tugged at his antlers, but it was too late. The thing he admired most had now become the cause of his downfall. The hunters caught him, and in his final moments, the stag realized his mistake. He had valued the wrong thing all along. What he thought was a weakness (his legs) had been his greatest strength, while his antlers, which he so dearly loved, had led to his demise.
“The greatest wealth is to live content with little.” – Plato
Moral: All that glitters is not gold.
Explanation: This story teaches us that not everything that looks beautiful or valuable on the outside is truly important. Often, the things we overlook or dislike may be the ones that help us the most. The stag’s antlers, which he admired for their beauty, caused his downfall, while his legs, which he disliked, were actually his greatest asset. It’s a reminder to appreciate the inner qualities and usefulness of things rather than being dazzled by appearances.
